Mangaluru: Passenger train services between Mangaluru and Subramanya Road will face major disruptions over the coming months due to urgent track maintenance works undertaken by the South Western Railway. Authorities have announced cancellations, delays, and special arrangements affecting both passenger and express trains across key routes in Karnataka.
Passenger services cancelled for extended period
The railway department has confirmed the complete cancellation of passenger trains operating between Mangaluru Central and Subramanya Road for a total of 35 days. This decision has been taken to facilitate essential infrastructure upgrades and ensure long-term safety and efficiency of rail operations.
The affected trains include:
- Train No. 56629 (Mangaluru – Subramanya Road Passenger)
- Train No. 56630 (Subramanya Road – Mangaluru Passenger)
These services will remain cancelled during two separate periods:
- March 23 to April 14
- June 10 to June 21
Passengers who rely on these routes for daily commuting, pilgrimage travel to Subramanya, and regional connectivity are expected to face inconvenience during this period. Railway officials have advised travellers to plan alternative modes of transport in advance.
Express trains to face delays
In addition to cancellations, several express train services will experience minor delays during April due to ongoing maintenance work.
The trains affected include:
- Yeshwantpur – Karwar Express (16515)
- Yeshwantpur – Mangaluru Express (16575)
- Yeshwantpur – Mangaluru Express (16539)
Each of these trains is expected to run approximately 20 minutes behind schedule.
Further, the Mangaluru – Subramanya passenger train (56229) will operate with a delay of nearly 55 minutes between April 21 and June 9.
Railway authorities have stated that these adjustments are temporary and necessary to carry out critical maintenance activities without compromising passenger safety.
Special trains for festive rush
To accommodate increased passenger demand during major festivals such as Ugadi and Ramzan, South Western Railway has introduced a one-trip special express train service.
The special train will operate between Yeshwantpur, Madgaon, and Bengaluru Cantonment with the following schedule:
- Departure from Yeshwantpur: March 20 at 11:50 am
- Arrival at Madgaon: 6:45 am (next day)
- Return departure from Madgaon: March 22 at 11:00 am
- Arrival at Bengaluru Cantonment: 5:20 am (March 24)
The train will halt at multiple important stations including Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subramanya Road, Udupi, Kundapur, Karwar, and several coastal towns, ensuring connectivity across Karnataka’s western belt.
Officials believe this special service will significantly ease travel pressure during the festive season, particularly for passengers heading towards coastal and Konkan regions.
Cancellations in South Central Railway zone
Meanwhile, disruptions are not limited to Karnataka alone. Several train services under the South Central Railway have also been cancelled due to operational reasons.
According to former railway advisory committee member Dr Baburao, the following services are affected:
- Kurnool City – Kacheguda (17436) and return (17435): Cancelled from March 12 to April 1
- Kacheguda – Raichur (67787, 17693) and return (67788, 17694): Cancelled from March 11 to March 31
- Gadwal – Raichur (67784) and return (67783): Cancelled from March 11 to March 31
These cancellations are expected to impact daily commuters and intercity travellers across Telangana and parts of Andhra Pradesh.
Conclusion
The large-scale disruptions across multiple railway zones highlight the scale of infrastructure work currently underway within Indian Railways. While the temporary inconvenience to passengers is significant, authorities maintain that such maintenance is crucial for improving safety standards, punctuality, and long-term operational efficiency.
Passengers are advised to regularly check train schedules and updates through official railway channels before planning their journeys.