M'lore-B'lore train set to roll

M'lore-B'lore train set to roll
From Ronald A Fernandes, DH News Service, Mangalore:

The countdown for the flagging off of the Mangalore - Bangalore train service has begun and the City is gearing up to welcome the national leaders — especially Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, who will be visiting Mangalore for the first time — who are slated to grace the occasion here on Saturday.

Incidentally, the Mangalore railway station too is in its centenary year. The first train was run from here to Madras in the year 1807.

When the metre gauge train service between Mangalore and Bangalore was opened in 1979, it was considered a boon for Mangaloreans. In fact, the picturesque route was the cynosure of all passengers. However, the line was closed for traffic when the Railways decided to convert it into broadgauge in 1996.

Work on the track, however, went on at a snail’s pace, notwithstanding a chorus of protests. While some attributed the delay to bus and truck operators’ lobby, others blamed it on the lackadaisical attitude of the Railways.

When journey on the route by bus — the only other affordable alternative to the common man — became miserable due to the poor condition of roads, the protests gained momentum.

According to Sarala Balagopal, CEO, Hassan Mangalore Railway Development Company Limited the advantage of running goods trains for one full year (before the commencement of passenger service) on the route is that the tracks have settled down.

The resumption of the passenger train will now bring to an end the endless promises and assurances by people’s representatives, innumerable protests and submission of memorandums.

No wonder the reservation for the inaugural train was full within two days of the opening of booking. In fact, more than 3,000 people have already booked tickets for the train numbers 6517 (Yeshwantpur-Mangalore) and 6518 (Mangalore-Yeshwantpur).

Meanwhile, a press release has said that the Mangalore-Bangalore train would have one AC 2-tier coach, one AC 3-tier coach, six sleeper class and six general second class coaches and two luggage-cum-brake vans.