Trains to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru are the most affordable transportation option available, with fares ranging between ₹10 and ₹30. However, they have not gained much traction among travellers. According to South Western Railway (SWR), the daily average of passengers using the KIA Halt station is just 30.
The KIA Halt station, situated 3.5 km from the airport, was constructed by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) and inaugurated in 2021. It was designed to serve flyers and airport staff, offering a cost-effective alternative to cabs and buses. Despite this, many Bengalureans remain unaware of this option. Some who know about it find that train schedules do not align with their flight timings, making it an impractical choice.
Most airport-goers still prefer using personal vehicles, on-demand cabs, or BMTC’s Vayu Vajra buses. A cab ride from central Bengaluru to the airport typically costs around ₹900. Recently, BIAL also raised the pickup fees for ride-hailing services, further increasing the cost of cab travel.
Currently, SWR operates six trains connecting KSR Bengaluru, Yeshwantpur, and Bengaluru Cantonment stations with the KIA Halt station. These services consist of DEMU (Diesel-Electric Multiple Unit) and MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) trains, with capacities ranging from eight to twelve cars.
Challenges Hindering Popularity
Sustainability practitioner Dhawall Mane suggests that trains are unlikely to become the first choice for many Bengalureans. “I live in Vivek Nagar, and the closest railway station is Bengaluru Cantonment, which is 30 minutes away. The inconvenience of loading and unloading luggage multiple times is a deterrent,” he explains. Mane would consider the train only if he had ample time and company during the journey.
Civic activist Rajkumar Dugar highlights several operational issues. “While it’s important to have various travel options, they must be reliable. The train service, however, has several flaws—it operates on limited routes, is infrequent, and often delayed,” Dugar notes. A resident of Vasanth Nagar, Dugar has used the train service three times but recalls facing delays and unplanned suspensions that made the service undependable.
Rail activist K N Krishna Prasad attributes the issues to the trains not being specifically designed for airport commutes. “These trains continue to destinations like Chikkaballapur and Kolar, and after Yelahanka, there’s only a single track, leading to delays and unpredictability,” Prasad explains.
Proposed Improvements
To improve the service, Prasad suggests adding boarding points in high-density areas like Whitefield and Kengeri, increasing the number of trains from KSR Bengaluru station, which has metro connectivity, and ensuring the service runs every day of the week.
To boost ridership, four more trains now stop at Bettahalsoor and Doddajala, a railway representative mentioned.
How to Use the Train Service
SWR operates six trains from KSR Bengaluru (SBC), Yeshwantpur (YPR), and Bengaluru Cantonment (BNC) stations that stop at the KIA Halt station (KIAD). Intermediate stops include Bengaluru East, Baiyappanahalli, Channasandra, Yelahanka, Bettahalsoor, Doddajala, Malleswaram, Lottegollahalli, and Kodigehalli.
BIAL provides a free shuttle service between the KIA Halt station and the airport terminals. The shuttle arrives five minutes before the train reaches the station. There are no train services on Sundays, and fares range from ₹10 to ₹30.
The earliest train towards the airport departs at 5:10 AM from Bengaluru Cantonment, while the last train leaves KSR Bengaluru station at 6:20 PM. The first train from the KIA Halt station towards Bengaluru departs at 8:18 AM, with the last train leaving at 7:23 PM.
Passengers can check the schedule using the NTES app, available on Android and iOS platforms, by searching under the ‘Trains between stations’ tab.
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