Mangaluru Central receives first passenger train after 5 months

Mangaluru: It was a rare sight at the Mangaluru Central railway station on Saturday as train 06515 from Bengaluru chugged in at 5.55am, for it was the first passenger train to run post-lockdown.
Mangaluru Central did not get to handle a single Shramik special train operated during the lockdown period. All these special trains operated by the zonal railways – SWR, Southern Railway and Konkan Railway — started from Mangaluru Junction railway station. Lack of advance information about train 06515 meant that there were not many passengers on it and only those with reserved accommodation travelled.
Train 06515 (Bengaluru-Mangaluru Central four days a week via Kunigal) later departed from Mangaluru Central to Bengaluru and train 06518 (Mangaluru Central-Bengaluru three days a week via Mysuru) at 8.50pm. SWR will operate Bengaluru-Mangaluru Central-Bengaluru train services on all days of the week – four-days via Kunigal and rest via Mysuru as special services and not operating it till Kannur (train 16511/12) due to the pandemic.
SWR has also reintroduced Yeshwantpur-Karwar-Yeshwantpur services as daily special trains (06585/06586) on which they will operate on the regular route via Kunigal. SWR has increased the speed of train 06585 between Hassan and Bantwal from September 7 to ensure it reaches Karwar at the right time. The train will depart from Hassan at 9.45pm (10.10pm); Sakleshpur 10.55pm (11pm) and Subrahmanya Road 1.35am (2.10am)
Only those with reserved accommodation on these special trains are allowed to board, SWR authorities said, adding they have to adhere to Covid-19 guidelines including maintaining social distance and wearing masks.