Mangalore: New Train Timings for Monsoon

The Mangalore-Lokamanya Tilak Terminus (Mumbai,Work on the Salem-Namakkal-Karur broadgauge line,
train no. 2620) will leave here at 12.50 p.m. instead ofa link for southern districts with western Tamil Nadu,
2.40 p.m. from June 15 as the monsoon train timingsis progressing fast. The project, initiated in 1996-97,
come into effect from that day.was mired in legal wrangles related to land acquisition
Trains on certain sections run below their normaland other issues before it took off three years ago.
speed during monsoon, between June 15 andWith DMK in the State and PMK at the Centre and a
October 31, as a safety measure.goodwill between them, the project then received a
A Southern Indian Railway Okha-Ernakulam bi-weeklyfillip and a steady flow of funds. The legal issues of
express (train no. 6337/6338) will be partiallyland attachment were sorted out thanks to the
withdrawn between Hapa-Okha-Hapa during monsoonefforts of the then Union Minister of State for
while Ernakulam-Nizamuddin Mangala Express (no.Railways R. Velu.
2617) will leave the originating station at 10.45 a.m.A senior official with the Salem Railway Division said
instead of 1.05 p.m. The departure timings of thisalmost 80 per cent of earth works had been
train at some key-stations are as follows: Shoranurcompleted in the 85-km-long project being executed
(1.05 p.m.), Calicut (3.05 p.m.), Kannur 4.55 p.m., andin two phases – Salem-Namakkal and
Mangalore junction 7.45 p.m.Namakkal-Karur.
The Mangalore-Verna Passenger (train no. KR2),Works on many culverts, bridges and rail overbridges
scheduled to leave here at 06.25 a.m. will leave fiveare on the verge of completion. Work on the Vangal
minutes early during monsoon.bridge across river Cauvery, near Karur, is on. Similarly
The following trains will leave Mangalore Junction fivethe massive overbridges on Trichy Road in Namakkal
minutes late (at 5.10 a.m. instead of 5.05 a.m.):town, Senthamangalam and also one near Mohanur
Kochuveli-Bikaner weekly Express (train no. 6312),are nearing completion.
Nagercoil-Gandhidham weekly Express (6336),Buildings for stations in Rasipuram, Namakkal and
Ernankulam-Okha Bi-weekly Express (6338), andMohanur are yet to be completed. There are six
Ernakulam-Ajmer Marusagar weekly Express (2977).major bridges, including the 800-metre long Vangal
According to a Konkan Railway press release, therebridge, 12 minor bridges, 25 rail overbridges and
may be slight variation in these timings due tounderbridges on this 85-kilometre stretch. Railway
introduction of All India Time Table from July 1.sources said traffic between the Salem and Namakkal
About Karur railway work progressingsector would be possible next year.