Mangaluru: Kudla Express, the day train between Bengaluru and Mangaluru via Mysuru announced by the then Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, is now likely to be operated via Shravanabelagola by March-end. The move would drastically reduce the distance and time taken for the journey, from 447 km to 340 km and from 13 hours to eight-nine hours.
As per the timetable published in 2014, the yet-to-be introduced Train No. 16575 was to leave Bengaluru at 8.30 a.m. to reach Mangaluru Central at 9.15 p.m. and Train No. 16576 to leave Mangaluru Central at 6.30 a.m. to reach Bengaluru at 7.30 p.m. via Mysuru.
However, the re-routing of the train is subject to several conditions. The first being authorisation by the Commissioner of Railway Safety to operate passenger trains on the newly constructed Nelamangala-Shravanabelagola line. The second being availability of coaches to form the rake for the train and the third is concurrence by the Railway Board to change the route.
