Shimoga MP B.Y. Raghavendra said that one more passenger train would be introduced between Shimoga and Birur along with the opening of the broad gauge railway line between Shimoga and Anandapuram on Saturday.
Disclosing this at a press conference here on Friday, he said that Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa would inaugurate the new broad gauge line and Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa would flag off the train service between Shimoga and Anandapuram. He said that according to the tentative time table, the train would leave Shimoga at 11.55 a.m. and reach Anandapuram at 1.35 p.m. In the return direction, the train would leave Anandapuram at 1.50 p.m. and reach Shimoga at 3.50 p.m. covering a distance of about 60 km.
He said that the timing of the passenger train running between Shimoga and Birur has been changed in view of the introduction of the new train to provide connection to the intercity train between Hubli and Bangalore.
The train, at present, leaves Shimoga at 8.20 a.m. and reaches Birur 10 a.m. providing connection to Hubli-Bangalore Intercity train and returns to Shimoga late evening, bringing the passengers of the Bangalore-Hubli Intercity train from Birur.
According to the revised timing, the train leaves Shimoga at 8.20 a.m. for Birur, from where it leaves at 10.30 a.m. to arrive at Shimoga at 11.45 a.m. The same train would leave Shimoga for Anandapuram with five coaches. He said that the same train would leave Shimoga for Birur at 3.45 p.m. providing connection to the Hubli-Bangalore Jan Shatabdi Express at Birur.
Mr. Raghavendra said that the time schedule for these trains was only tentative and would be revised to suit the convenience of the passengers. He said Rs. 300 crore had been allocated in the Railway Budget for doubling of the track between Birur and Arsikere. The work on it was expected to be completed in eight to 10 months.He said that the running time of the trains to Bangalore and Mysore on this section would be reduced considerably with the doubling of the track. Mr. Raghavendra said that the development works, including the extension of the second platform in the main Shimoga Railway Station and renovation of the
Vidyanagar Railway Station in Shimoga, had been taken up.