SWR to operate intra-state trains from Bengaluru to Mysuru, Belagavi after two months

BENGALURU: Days after the Karnataka government allowed intra-state transport services, South Western Railway (SWR) will operate train services within Karnataka from May 22.
SWR will operate four trains: two each between Bengaluru- Mysuru and Bengaluru-Belagavi. Intra-state passenger train services had been suspended since March 22. Currently, SWR operates Shramik Special trains and daily inter-state trains (Rajdhani specials) between Bengaluru and New Delhi. On Monday, the state government gave its nod to operate intra-state trains. However, these trains won’t run on Sundays due to complete lockdown in Karnataka.
Train No. 06503 KSR Bengaluru City railway station – Mysuru Special will depart from Bengaluru at 9:20am and arrive in Mysuru at 12:45pm except Sundays from May 22. On the return journey, Train No. 06504 Mysuru – KSR Bengaluru Special will leave from Mysuru at 1:45pm and arrive in Bengaluru at 5pm except Sundays from May 22. It will have stoppages at Kengeri, Ramanagara, Maddur, Mandya, Pandavapura and Naganahalli.
Train no. 02079 KSR Bengaluru – Belagavi Special will leave KSR Bengaluru City railway station at 8am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from Bengaluru and arrive at Belagavi at 6:30pm from May 22. On the return journey, 02080 Belagavi – KSR Bengaluru Special will depart from Belagavi at 8am on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and arrive in KSR Bengaluru at 6:30pm from May 23. It will have stoppages at places like Yeshwantpur, Tumakuru, Arsikere, Davanagere, Hubbali and Dharwad.
“Both trains will be operated as fully reserved trains and only booking through IRCTC will be allowed,” said a SWR official.
On Monday, state government decided to allow intra-state transport services outside the containment zones between 7am and 7pm. The railways have also tweaked timings to ensure that these trains reach the destination station before 7pm.
Meanwhile, Indian Railways is planning to run 200 non-AC trains daily from June 1. This is likely to include Bengaluru-Hubbali Jan Shatabdi, Yeshwanthpur-Shivamoga Jan Shatabdi, Bengaluru/Yeshwanthpur-H Nizamuddin bi-weekly, Mumbai-Gadag daily express, Mumbai-Bengaluru Udyan Express and Sanghamithra Express (Bengaluru-Danapur).
In fact, KSRTC on Tuesday resumed intra-state operations. Resumption of intra-state train services is expected to help thousands of people since it will be cheaper and faster than other transport modes.