Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Cantonment – Madurai Vande Bharat train will be flagged off on August 31. The train will run daily services except Tuesdays, making it the seventh Vande Barat service from Bengaluru. Earlier, the train was supposed to begin its service from Bayyapanahalli; however, now it has been transferred to the Cantonment station. As the train stops at Dindigul, it will benefit the tourists to Kodaikanal. The Bengaluru Cantonment – Madurai Vande Bharat (20672) departs at 1.30 pm and reaches Madurai by 9.45 pm. The train has stops at KR Puram (1.55 pm), Salem (4.50 pm), Namakkal (5.38 pm), Karoor (5.58 pm), Tiruchirappalli (7.20 pm) and Dindigul (9.08 pm). Meanwhile, the Madurai – Bengaluru Cantonment leaves Madurai at 5.15 am and reaches Bengaluru at 1 pm. The ticket rates for this service haven’t been decided yet.
Mysuru – Sengottai special
The southwest railway has announced special trains to Sengottai on September 4 and 7, ahead of the Vinayaka Chaturthi festivities. This train would be helpful for the passengers from Punalur and Thenmala regions in Kollam district in Kerala. The Mysuru – Sengottai special train (06241) departs from Mysuru at 9.20 pm and reaches Sengottai by 4.50 the next morning. This special train has stops at Kengeri, KSR and KR Puram in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, the Sengottai – Mysuru (06242) leaves at 8 pm on September 5 and reaches Mysuru at 2.20 pm the next day. The KSR Bengaluru – Ernakulam Intercity Express (12677) will be running late for up to forty minutes on September 1 as track maintenance works are scheduled at Angamaly.
Will the new service affect Ernakulam – Bengaluru Vande Bharat?
The passengers are miffed at the southwest railway for not extending the popular Ernakulam – Bengaluru Vande Bharat train, especially during the festival season. Private buses are likely to profit when such an important and busy train stops services during the Onam season. The bus fare to Kerala has already crossed Rs 3500 and this may further go up on the days close to Thiruvonam.
The Ernakulam – Bengaluru Vande Bharat hasn’t resumed apparently to allow a platform for the new Cantonment – Madurai Vande Bharat. This train reaches Bengaluru at 1 pm and leaves the station by 1.30 pm. Even though the Ernakulam – Bengaluru train could be operated at 11.30 pm, the mechanical division hasn’t given its approval. Meanwhile, the Kerala – Bengaluru Train Users Forum urged the MPs from Kerala to immediately intervene against cancelling the Ernakulam – Bengaluru Vande Bharat train during the Onam season.
