One more day train for Mysuru-bound commuters

Bengaluru: The South Western Railway (SWR) introduced one more train from Mysuru to Chennai via Bengaluru considering the large number of people, especially workers from the unorganised sector, travelling on the route.

While a new mainline electric multiple unit (MEMU) train was recently introduced between Bengaluru and Mysuru in the evenings, the  extension of the Chennai - Bengaluru Express to  Mysuru  will help passengers travelling during the day.

Train numbers 12609 and 12160  will leave Mysuru at 4.45 am and reach Bengaluru city railway station at 8.02 am. They will arrive in Chennai by 2.30 pm and on the return journey, leave Chennai by 1.35 pm to reach Mysuru by 11 pm.

Speaking to the Deccan Chronicle, a senior railway official said  the train had met a long pending demand of workers from the garment and manufacturing industries, besides the unorganised sector from both  cities.  “Although a new MEMU train was introduced recently between Mysuru and Bengaluru, the  extension of the Chennai - Bengaluru Express to Mysuru will  help  passengers travelling during the day. But we haven’t yet finalised which day the train will run,” he added.

Welcoming the introduction of the new train,  Mr Rakshith N, a regular commuter between the two cities, said, “The new train will help thousands of government employees and workers from the unorganised sector from Mysuru reach their workplaces on the Mysuru-Bengaluru route. It will ease pressure on the Chamundi Express that leaves Mysuru at 6.45 am and help reduce traffic on the Mysuru- Bengaluru highway as currently many are forced to go by road in the absence of proper train services.”