BENGALURU: The Yeshwantpur - Hassan Intercity Express, a superfast daily train, will be the first regular train to run on the new 111-km rail line between Hassan and Sharavanabelegola on Sunday.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, former prime minister and Hassan MP H D Deve Gowda and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will flag off the inaugural special from Yeshwantpur at 11 am on Sunday.
While the inaugural train will run on open timings, the regular timings of the train (no. 22679) from March 27 will be as follows:
Departure from Yeshwantpur at 6.15 pm, arrival at Hassan at 9 pm.
The arrival/ departure timings at each of the stations en route are as follows: Chikbanavar at 6.24/6.25 pm; Nelamangala 6.36/6.37 pm; Kunigal at 7.13/7.14 pm; Yediyuru at 7.28/7.29 pm; B G Nagar at 7.40/7.41 pm; Shravanabelagola at 8.09/8.10 pm; Channarayapatna at 8.18/8.19 pm before terminating at Hassan.
In the return direction, the train (No. 22680) will depart from Hassan at 6.30 am and reach Yeshwantpur at 9.15 am. Enroute the train arrives/departs Channarayapatna at 6.58/6.59 am; Sharavanabelagola at 7.06 am/7.07 am; B G Nagar at 7.34/7.35 am; Yediyuru at 7.47/7.48 am; Kunigal at 8.02/8.03 am; Nelamangala at 8.44/8.45 am and Chikbanavar at 8.58/9 am.
The train will have 14 coaches comprising of four second class chair car coaches, eight modern Deenadayalu coaches and two second class luggage brake van/disabled coaches.
‘Name train after Bahubali’
The new train needs to be renamed as Bahubali Express, urged Prakash Mandoth, ex-member Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee. In a letter to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and top railway officials, he said Sharavanabelegola has a gigantic statue of Bahubali.
The place is revered by Jains, who are also marking Mahamastakabhisheka in 2017, an event celebrated once in 12 years. The minister’s office has responded saying the suggestion will be looked into. Mandoth also called for the introduction of the Yeshwantpur-Mangalore Kudla Express that had been sanctioned in the Railway budget in 2014-2015.