South Western Railway introduces special trains for Diwali travel from B'luru

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: South Western Railway has arranged a special new-way train from Bengaluru to Vishakhapatnam for travelers this Diwali. Train No. 08544 will depart from SMVT Bengaluru on October 22 at 3:50 PM, heading to Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

The train will stop at Krishnarajapuram, Bangarpet, Kuppam, Jolarpet, Katpadi, Renigunta, Gootur, Nellore, Gudiwada, Kaikalur, Akividu, Bhimavaram, Thuku, Nidadavolu, Rajahmundri, Samalkota, Elamanchili, and Duwwada.

South Western Railway hopes the service will help ease traffic congestion during Diwali, as special trains are generally arranged when holiday travel peaks. Another special train from Yeshwantpur to Madgaon and back to Bengaluru has been arranged for one trip in each direction.

Train No. 06267 will depart Yeshwantpur at 12:00 PM on October 21 and reach Madgaon at 5:30 AM the next day. Stops include Chikka Banavara, Kunigal, Channarayapatna, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabaka Puttur, Bantawala, Surathkal, Mulki, Udupi, Barkur, Kundapura, Byndoor Mookambika Road, Bhatkal, Murdeshwar, Honnavar, Kumta, Gokarna Road, Ankola, and Karwar.

On the return journey, Train No. 06268 will leave Madgaon at 10:30 AM on October 22, arriving at Bengaluru Cantonment at 4:30 AM the next day, stopping at the same stations in reverse order, including SMVT Bengaluru. The train will consist of two AC 2-tier, three AC 3-tier, ten sleeper class, three general second-class coaches, and two SLR/D coaches.