The Hindu Business Line : Passenger trains soon on Hassan-Mangalore line

Mangalore April 13 More than a decade-old demand of people of Mangalore for a direct train link to Bangalore is likely to come true soon, as the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has given clearance for running passenger trains on Hassan-Mangalore route.

However, the Railways is yet to announce the dates for running passenger trains on the route.

Sources in the Railways told Business Line that the CRS, Mr P.K. Sen, has cleared the route for running passenger-carrying trains. However, he has pointed out some minor issues and asked the Railways to address them. The clearance by CRS is essential for running passenger trains on the route.

Mr P.K. Sen - along with Mr Richardson Asir, Chief Administrative Officer of South Western Railway, Ms Sarala Balagopal, Chief Executive Officer of Hassan-Mangalore Rail Development Company Ltd, and other officials of the Railways - inspected the 55-km stretch of the line between Sakleshpur and Subrahmanya on Hassan-Mangalore route on April 10 and 11.

He also conducted speed trials between Sakleshpur and Subrahmanya during the inspection.

The total length of Hassan-Mangalore route is 188.74 km. The Subrahmanya-Sakleshpur section - predominantly a ghat section of 55 km - is the most difficult stretch on the on the route. The metre gauge line on the route was originally commissioned for traffic in 1979.