BENGALURU: The double-decker train, launched from Bengaluru to Coimbatore a fortnight ago, is slowly picking up. With just 53 per cent average ridership per day when departing from Bengaluru and just 48 per cent from Coimbatore station, it is going to take a while to gather steam.
KSR Bengaluru-Coimbatore Uday Express (Train No. 02666) departs from Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station at 2.15 pm and reaches Coimbatore at 9 pm on all days except Mondays. The absence of stoppage at Bengaluru Cantonment Railway Station is a grouse with passengers. A railway official said he had received enquiries from passengers asking why the train was not stopping at Cantonment.
Prasad Kumar Das, a techie, said, “The traffic at Bengaluru city station is nightmarish. If a stoppage can be provided at a less congested station like Cantonment, it will be of great help.”Joint convenor, Karnataka Kerala Travellers’ Forum, C Kunjappan said, “It will be a big help not only to passengers heading to Coimbatore but also to Kerala. Many who need to visit Palakkad reach Coimbatore and take a bus as it takes just an hour from there. This will help them enormously.” Divisional Railway Manager, Bengaluru Railway Division, R S Saxena said the train has 53per cent ridership from Bengaluru.