Bengaluru: Regular railway commuters should plan some other mode of transport on Sunday (February 10) as South Western Railway (SWR) is all set to commission the much-delayed automatic signalling system between Bengaluru Cantonment and Whitefield stations which could affect several train services.
The Railways claims to have taken several steps to avoid delays due to fog and to improve safety. The modified automatic signalling system has already been introduced in Northern Railway and North Central Railway Zones. During fog, it restricts the number of trains to two between two stations. The same system will be implemented in Bengaluru.
“The work was delayed because of many reasons, but now, things are fine. The first stage of the signalling will be between Cantonment and Byyappanahalli, which is likely to be commissioned on the night of February 10. It increases section capacity or the ability to handle the number of trains, by almost three times. It will help in quicker movement of trains and enables operating more trains in this section,” a senior Railway official told Deccan Chronicle.
The project was sanctioned in 2013-14 at an estimated cost of Rs 19.7 crore, but the work was in suspension. While SWR is yet to issue a formal communication, sources said 12 trains are likely to be cancelled, 15 may be partially cancelled and seven will be diverted to other stations. The Railways claimed that the second stage is between Byyappanahalli to KR Puram, which is likely to be commissioned on the morning of February 18. The third stage is between KR Puram and Whitefield, which will be commissioned by the evening of February 19.
The cancelled trains include: 12677/12678 KSR Bengaluru-Ernakulam-Bengaluru Express (Feb. 10), 56503 Bengaluru Cantonment-Vijayawada Passenger (Feb. 10), 56504 Vijayawada-Bengaluru Cantonment (Feb. 9), 16522/16521 KSR Bengaluru-Bangarpet-Bengaluru (Feb. 10), 16236/16235 Mysuru-Tuticorin-Mysuru (Feb. 9), 56507/56508 Marikuppam-KSR Bengaluru-Marikuppam (Feb. 10), 56511/56512 Bangarpet-Marikuppam-Bangarapet (Feb. 10).
