With the announcement of the Railway Minister regarding restoration of train services from June 1, SWR, has received sanction to start with two services – both within the Karnataka State.
A tri-weekly service is planned between Bengaluru and Belagavi and a return service of the same frequency.
The second one is a daily service planned between Bengaluru and Mysuru.
The usual conditions are applicable – these are same as the ones imposed on the travelers of the AC Specials from Delhi. Salient conditions are:
· Booking only on IRCTC online; no counter tickets
· Only non-airconditioned services
· No unreserved passengers permitted
· Passengers to reach stations adequately in advance of departure, as advised
· Thermal screening for passengers will be done at entry to the station
· Patients having symptoms not to be allowed
· Adequate social distancing to be maintained
· Masks compulsory during the entire duration of travel
· Adequate security and ticket checking staff being posted to enforce these rules
· Passengers requested to carry adequate water and food for the journey
South Western Railway seem to be the first off the block to announce restoration of Post-COVID train services.
Though a plethora of Sharmik Specials are being run all over IR – with SWR alone reaching the 100-train mark today, services for the common man were not yet announced, bar the 15 AC specials from Delhi to various locations.
This, hopefully, will be
the beginning of a gradual increase of railway services for the common man.
Official SWR Release
Starting from March 22, for the first time in history of Indian Railways, passenger trains have been suspended to comply with Lockdown imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19 across the country. However Freight and Parcel trains kept on running with determined work by Corona warriors in Indian Railways, to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential goods across the country.
On May 18th, the first day of lockdown 4.0, Hon’ble CM of Karnataka has stated that inter District trains within Karnataka can be started. Ministry of Railways has considered this recommendation and has approved running of 4 trains-2 trains each between Bengaluru and Mysuru; Bengaluru and Belagavi. Hon’ble MoSR was instrumental in resumption of trains in graded manner in Karnataka.
South Western Railway has decided to run two pairs of special trains, one between KSR Bengaluru to Belagavi and the other between KSR Bengaluru to Mysuru as detailed below:-
1. Train No. 02079 / 02080 KSR Bengaluru – Belagavi – KSR Bengaluru Special (Six days in a week):-
Train No. 02079 KSR Bengaluru – Belagavi Special will depart from KSR Bengaluru at 08:00 hrs on all days except Sunday and arrive Belagavi at 18:30 hrs with effect from from 22.05.2020.
Enroute this train will have stoppage at Yesvantpur – 08:09/08:10 hrs, Tumakuru – 08:59/09;00 hrs, Arsikere – 10:25/10:30 hrs, Birur – 11:13/11:14 hrs, Chikjajur – 12:09/12:10 hrs, Davangere – 12:48/12:50 hrs, Harihar – 13:03/13:04 hrs, Ranibennur – 13:25/13:26 hrs, Haveri – 13:51 / 13:52 hrs, Hubballi – 15:25/15:30 hrs and Dharwad – 15:45/15:15:47 hrs.
In the return direction Train No. 02080 Belagavi – KSR Bengaluru Special will depart from Belagavi at 08:00 hrs on all days except Sunday and arrive KSR Bengaluru at 18:30 hrs with effect from 23.05.2020.
Enroute this train will stop at Dharwad – 10:15/10:17 hrs, Hubballi – 10:37/10:42 hrs, Haveri – 11:40 / 11:41 hrs, Ranibennur – 12:05/12:06 hrs, Harihar – 12:27/12:28 hrs, Davangere – 12:43/12:45 hrs, Chikjajur – 13:35/13:36 hrs, Birur – 14:35/14:36 hrs, Arsikere – 15:10/15:15 hrs, Tumakuru – 16:35/16:36 hrs and Yesvantpur – 17:40/17:41 hrs .
2. Train No. 06503 / 06504 KSR Bengaluru – Mysuru – KSR Bengaluru Special (Six days in week) :-
Train No. 06503 KSR Bengaluru – Mysuru Special will depart from KSR Bengaluru at 09:20 hrs and arrive Mysuru at 12:45 hrs on all days except Sunday with effect from from 22.05.2020.
Enroute this train will have stoppage at Kengeri – 09:43/09:44 hrs, Ramanagaram – 10:15/10:16 hrs, Maddur – 10:48/10:50 hrs, Mandya – 11:08/11:10 hrs, Pandavapura – 11:44/11:45 hrs and Naganahalli – 11:59/12:00 hrs.
In the return direction Train No. 06504 Mysuru – KSR Bengaluru Special will depart from Mysuru at 13:45 hrs and arrive KSR Bengaluru at 17:00 hrs on all days except Sunday with effect from from 22.05.2020.
Enroute this train will have stoppage at Naganahalli – 13:54/13:55 hrs, Pandavapura – 14:10/14:11 hrs, Mandya – 14:40/14:41 hrs, Maddur – 15:02/15:03 hrs, Ramanagaram – 15:34/15:35 hrs and Kengeri – 16:10/16:11 hrs.
These are over and above Shramik specials from Karnataka to other States and Rajdhani specials between New Delhi and Bengaluru already running.
On Sundays, due to lockdown in Karnataka, above 4 trains won’t run