• Source:JND

Bengaluru-Mangaluru Rail Line News: Train services on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru and Karwar routes are set to shift fully to electric traction, with electrification work on the crucial Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road Ghat section nearing completion. Once finished, this will remove the last diesel-operated stretch on the sector.

At present, this 55-km ghat section is the only part of the route still running on diesel locomotives. Other stretches, including Mangaluru-Subrahmanya Road and Sakleshpur-Chikkabanawara, Arsikere and Mysuru, have already been electrified.

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Changes In Train Operations

According to The Hindu report, Several passenger trains currently require locomotive changes at Mangaluru Central due to the non-electrified ghat section. Services such as the KSR Bengaluru-Kannur Express and the SMVT Bengaluru-Murdeshwar Express switch to electric traction after reaching Mangaluru.

However, the KSR Bengaluru-Karwar Panchaganga Express continues to run fully on diesel. Railway officials said this is due to the lack of locomotive-changing facilities between Mangaluru and Udupi, even though the Konkan Railway network is fully electrified.

Line Block To Be Lifted

The South Western Railway (SWR) is preparing to remove the 198-day line block on the Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road section from December 16. The block was imposed on May 31 to facilitate electrification work and had affected day-time train services on the route.

The Hindu report cited Mysuru Divisional Railway Manager Mudit Mittal as stating that,  most electrification work is complete, with only minor ancillary tasks remaining. Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES), which is executing the project, has sought a few more days to finish the work, without requiring further line blocks.

Safety Checks And Timeline

Once electrification is completed, the section will undergo charging and testing. This will be followed by a mandatory inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety. Officials expect the full process to be completed by January, after which trains can begin operating on electric traction.

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Track Upgrade For Vande Bharat

The Railway Ministry has also directed SWR to upgrade the Chikkabanawara–Mangaluru track to support Vande Bharat Express services. Work is under way to strengthen infrastructure and signalling systems to handle semi-high-speed trains.

Officials said these upgrades will significantly improve efficiency, reduce travel time and cut dependence on diesel operations across the corridor.


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