BENGALURU: The South Western Railway has received one more Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) rake as part of an MoU between the state end Central governments.
This becomes the third MEMU rake to be converted out of the 15 short distance passenger trains, as per the MoU, said Aparna Garg, Additional Divisional Railway Manager of Bengaluru division, SWR.
“The new MEMU rake is being readied. We’re yet to commission it and decide on what stretch it will be deployed. The first two MEMUs are already running on KSR Bengaluru-Whitefield- Bangarpet-Marikuppam and KSR-Malleswaram- Hindpur routes, " Aparna said. The passenger trains replaced have been added to other long distance operations.
In this financial year, four MEMU rakes have been deployed totally, including the KSR to Ramanagara commissioned in Jan., which is not part of the suburban rail.
Transport activists and commuters have been demanding more MEMU services. Sanjeev Dyamnavar of Praja Raag said more such services should be deployed towards Whitefield. “We will expect SWR to deploy a train towards Whitefield, either from KSR, Yelahanka or Yeshwanthpur depending on the congestion at City Railway Station. Any idle DEMU (diesel based) rakes can be utilised towards Tumakuru, which also has high commuter demand."
But Aparna said currently no DEMU rake was idle. Suburban rail patrons, especially techies who have taken to daily train travel to reach the IT corridor can expect two more MEMUs by March next year, followed by five more by the end of 2018.
