Mangaluru: Cancellation Of Day Trains Between Mangaluru And Bengaluru For Five months Sparks Concern
The cancellation, announced in a press release, is due to line blocks necessitated by safety-related and electrification work on the Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road (Ghat) section.
Mangaluru: With South Western Railway announcing the cancellation of key day train services between Mangaluru and Bengaluru for five months from June 1, concerns are mounting among regular passengers and activists, who have urged authorities to explore alternatives—especially during the upcoming monsoon season when road transport in the Western Ghats is often disrupted.
The cancellation, announced in a press release, is due to line blocks necessitated by safety-related and electrification work on the Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road (Ghat) section. The work will be carried out during daytime hours from June 1 to November 1, 2025, affecting several trains that operate during the day. Night services, however, will remain unaffected.
As per the press statement as the work is conducted during day time only the day train service will be affected and the night service will not be affected.
According to a press statement due to a line block for safety-related and railway electrification work between Sakleshpur and Subrahmanya Road, several train services connecting Mangaluru and other destinations will be cancelled from May 31 to November 1, 2025.
Train No. 16539 Yesvantpur–Mangaluru Weekly Express, which operates on Saturdays, will be cancelled from May 31 to November 1, while its return service, Train No. 16540, running on Sundays, will be cancelled from June 1 to November 2. The tri-weekly 16575/16576 Gomateshwara Express, running between Yesvantpur and Mangaluru, will be cancelled from June 1 and 2 to October 30 and 31, respectively. Additionally, Train No. 16515 Yesvantpur–Karwar Tri-weekly Express and its return Train No. 16516 Karwar–Yesvantpur will be cancelled from June 2 and 3 to October 31 and November 1, respectively. The cancellation affects only daytime services, as the work will be undertaken during daylight hours
Activists and regular passengers say that the railway line between the coastal city and Bengaluru is a lifeline, especially during monsoons, when the Charmadi and Shiradi Ghat roads are prone to landslides and traffic disruptions. The night trains are already heavily booked, often months in advance, and the cancellation of day services leaves passengers with few viable alternatives.
Paschima Karavali Railway Yatri Abhivrudhi Samiti president G. Hanumanth Kamath criticised the decision and stressed on the need for stakeholder consultation before such a major decision.
“Railway service is very important during the monsoon. Instead of cancelling trains, the authorities could have explored alternatives. Today, we have modern technology—they can stop work a few hours before the train passes through the section and then continue, rather than cancelling services entirely. Alternatively, the timetable can be adjusted so the train crosses the Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road section after work ends in the evening,” Kamath said.
Kamath also highlighted the economic burden the move could place on travellers. “During long weekends, bus fares surge. Without day train services, fares could touch Rs 3,000 or even Rs 4,000. The Railways should have consulted local stakeholders—we would have suggested solutions,” he added.
In response, Dakshina Kannada MP Brijesh Chowta told Deccan Chronicle that he will take up the matter with the Railway Minister and senior officials.
“We will work on the best possible option that will balance the needs of passengers and the progress of electrification work,” he said when asked if additional night services were being planned.
