Bengaluru City-Mysuru rail line goes electric

BENGALURU: Rail travel between Bengaluru and Mysuru will see a big transformation with the completion of the electrification of the 139-km stretch connecting the two important cities of Karnataka.
While doubling itself came as a boon to passengers, electrification will now pave way for the introduction of electric locomotives in a region long served by diesel engines. The switch will lead to substantial saving in costs for the railways.

Operating a diesel loco would cost Rs 40,000 per trip while an electric loco would cut the cost by more than half. “We will not only save money by moving to electric trains. We will also be using a clean energy source which will help protect our environment,” said E Vijaya, chief public relation officer at South Western Railway (SWR).

Besides the significant reduction in carbon emissions, the electric trains run at a higher speed and is easy on maintenance.

Vijaya said the SWR would initially operate the Shatabdi Express (which shuttles between Chennai and Mysuru) using electric locomotives. “We have plans to introduce electric trains in place of three mail and 2-3 passenger trains by March 2018,” she added.

The SWR operates 27 pairs of daily passengers, express and superfast trains (including weekly and biweekly) between Mysuru and Bengaluru.



Commuter demand
A railway user group has requested additional train services between the tech city and the heritage city, given the fact that at least 31,000 people use the services daily. Bengaluru-Mysuru is the second busiest route after the Bengaluru-Jolarpettai section.

“Since the Karwar/Kannur express from Bengaluru will skip Mysuru and instead use the newly laid Shravanabelagola line, there will be no passenger trains to Mysuru from Bengaluru between 7 pm and 11.55 pm. It will affect a lot of people including techies,” said S Yogendra, convener of Mysore Grahakara Parishat.

As an alternative to the proposed diversion of this train, the forum has requested the authorities to extend 12609/10 KSR Bengaluru-Chennai Superfast Express to Mysuru. “The superfast train from Chennai terminates at Bengaluru at 8.30 pm. Users are requesting that this service be extended to Mysuru,” Yogendra said.

“We are considering the appeal,” Vijaya said. Krishna Prasad from the Karnataka Railway Vedike wants the railways to commission the electric train services right away instead of waiting for the formalities such as launch by a VVIP.

“The Commissioner of Rail Safety cleared the upgraded line for use last month but the railways is delaying the launch of new services resulting in inconvenience to people as well as losses for the ministry,” he said.