Vijayapura: Almost after two years, Vijayapura-Hubballi inter-city train will start its services from Wednesday January 12 as South Western Railways (SWR) has made required arrangements.
According to officials the service will start operations from the evening of Tuesday January 11. However, the inter-city express will start from Vijayapura on the morning of Wednesday January 12. The train is resuming its operation after nearly two years. The railway authorities had suspended the operation after the outbreak of Covid – 19 in March 2020. After the first wave of Covid – 19, the commuters and railway activists had launched a campaign in the social networks demanding the railway authorities to restore all the following express trains namely Vijayapura-Hubballi Intercity Express, Vijayapura-Yesvantpur and Vijayapura-Mangaluru Daily Special Express. However, it is now the SWR has restored all the above three train services.
According to the SWR, “The Hubballi-Vijayapura Intercity Express (07329) will everyday depart Hubballi junction at 4:45 pm and reach Gadag by 5:55 pm and it will ply via Badami, Bagalkot and Almatti and arrives at Vijayapura at 10:10 pm. The same train (07330) will depart Vijayapura at 5:45 am and will commute through Bagalkot, Badami, Holealuru, Gadag and will reach Hubballi at 11.00 am. This intercity express train will comprise five sleeper second class compartments, six general compartments and two general second class luggage-cum-brake-van compartments.”
Aneesh Hegade, Chief Public Relation Officer, said that, “This intercity express train had been introduced after getting a nod from the Railway Board. This will be operated everyday until further orders. The tickets will be issued at the railway state counter and commuters can also book tickets from various applications. Meanwhile, the commuters have to adhere to the Covid – 19 guidelines like wearing masks while traveling in the train.”
With the introduction of the intercity express train the happiness has doubled among the regular commuters. This train will largely benefit the students and employed people of Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Gadag, Guledagudda and Holealuru.
Ashok Hallur, Chairman of Vijayapura Railway Action Committee, pointed out that, “We appreciate the railway authorities for reintroducing this train because it benefits the large section of regular commuters. The people were dependent only on the buses to commute to Hubballi. With the introduction of this train, it will not only help reach Hubballi quickly but also helps catch other trains like Janshatabadi Express. However, the railway authorities have to change the departure timings from Vijayapura. It will be very early for the passengers to catch the train at 5:45 am instead the SWR has to depart the train between 6.00 am to 6:30 am,” appealed rail activist Hallur.
The schedule
Train No 07330 – Vijayapura-Hubballi to depart from Vijayapura – 5:45 am and will reach Hubballi at 11.00 am
Train No 07329 – Hubballi-Vijayapura will depart from Hubballi at 4:45 pm and will arrive to Vijayapura at 10: 10 pm
