Trains between Vijayapura and Mangaluru Junction will resume on December 1st

The Railway Board has approved the restoration of the Vijayapura-Mangaluru Junction-Vijayapura Daily Express Special, which connects the northern parts of Karnataka with coastal areas, beginning December 1 at Vijayapura and December 2 at Mangaluru Junction. The services were cancelled since the  pandemic. In November 2019, they were initially introduced in response to public demand. Despite the gradual reinstatement of countless other cancelled trains over the course of a year, this service was not resumed, giving customers and authorities concern.

South Western Railway (SWR) has stated that services will resume on November 1. Sources indicated there was a delay in getting authorization from the Railway Board. Despite requests for changes in time, the restored services would operate on the old schedule. Patrons and MP requested the Railways to guarantee that the Vijayapura-Mangaluru Junction train arrives in Mangaluru by 9 a.m. rather than 12.40 p.m. They want the Mangaluru Junction-Vijayapura train to depart at 5.30 p.m. rather than 4.30 p.m. The arrival and departure times were inconvenient for both regular commuters and office employees.

Due to other trains using the platforms at the required times, Southern Railway, which manages Mangaluru Junction, has informed SWR that it would be unable to accommodate the adjustments. Basavana Bagewadi Road, Almatti, Bagalkot, Guledagudda Road, Badami, Hole Alur, Mallapur, Gadag, Hubballi, Karajagi, Haveri, Byadagi, Ranebennur, Harihar, Davanagere, Kadur, Arsikere, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabaka Puttur, and Bantwal are among the commercial centers.

The timings have been adjusted slightly: Train No. 07377 will depart Vijayapura at 6.15 p.m. instead of the previously scheduled 6 p.m., arriving at Mangaluru Junction at 12.40 p.m. the following day. Train No. 07378 will depart Mangaluru Junction at 4.45 p.m. instead of the earlier 4.30 p.m. on the return route. In all, the train will feature 14 coaches, with five general second class, six-second class sleepers, one AC 3-Tier, and two luggage-cum-brake vans.