BENGALURU: New timings for four trains, a superfast train between Bengaluru and Shivamogga and shifting of terminals for two Kerala-bound trains have been announced for the South Western Railway Zone in the much delayed new timetable that will come into effect from November 1.
It has been formally declared that there will be speeding up of 17 trains, up-gradation of three mail/express trains to superfast trains and conversion of two passenger trains to express trains from November 1. While most of these changes have already been implemented, it will only reflect now in the new timetable, said top railway officials.
New announcements
Revised timings for four trains will come into effect only from November 1, he said. The trains are Shivamogga-KSR Bengaluru (20652), which will save 25 minutes, KSR Bengaluru-Shivamogga (20651), estimated to save 20 minutes, Yeshwantpur-Harihar Express (16577) which will save 15 minutes and Harihar-Yeshwantpur Express (16578), which will cut down it’s travel time by 10 minutes.
The Bengaluru Shivamogga Town Express (20651/20652), a daily train will be converted into a superfast train from November 1. Two other superfast trains incorporated only now in the timetable, had begun functioning long ago — Hubballi-Chennai Central Superfast (22697/22698) almost a year back from November 1, 2016 and the New Tinsukia-KSR Bengaluru from January, 2017 (22501/22502).
Another new announcement is the shifting of terminal for the Ernakulam-KSR Bengaluru (12683/12684) and the Ernakulam-KSR Bengaluru (22607/22608) to Banaswadi from January 4 and January 8, 2018 respectively.
Saving from 5 to 45 minutes for different trains has been achieved by speeding up of trains, said an official release. The maximum time saving of 45 minutes has been attained by the Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru Jn Karwar Express (16515) and 35 minutes by the Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru Express (16575). This could happen due to the opening up of a new route via Nelamangala and Shravanabelagola nearly three months ago, an official said.
Two passenger trains converted into express trains earlier this year were Chamrajnagar-Tirupati and Mysuru-Talaguppa train, it said.