Single-trip slow special from Bengaluru to Mumbai for Holi; no superfast train yet

Bengaluru: With travel demand surging ahead of Holi festival, hundreds of passengers travelling between Bengaluru and Mumbai continue to wait for a reliable rail option as only a one-time special train has been announced so far by South Western Railway (SWR).Despite repeated demands from passenger groups for a daily superfast train connecting the two cities, the railway zone has allocated only a single-trip special service. The train, scheduled to depart Sunday evening, will be a non-air-conditioned express, offering limited relief during the peak festive rush.
The special train will leave Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) Bengaluru near Byappanahalli at 7:30pm Sunday and is expected to reach Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (Mumbai) at 11:30pm the following day, covering the journey in 28 hours and 30 minutes. The relatively long travel time has drawn criticism from commuters who were expecting a faster alternative.The train will stop at Chikkabanavara, Tumakuru, Arsikere, Birur, Davanagere, Harihar, Haveri, Hubballi, Dharwad, Londa, Belagavi, Ghataprabha, Miraj, Sangli, Karad, Satara, Pune, Lonavala and Kalyan stations.More than three months ago, the railway board notified a bi-weekly express service between Bengaluru and Mumbai in response to sustained passenger demand. Although the proposed service faced criticism for its limited frequency and slower schedule, it was seen as a much-needed alternative to the heavily relied-upon Udyan Express. However, the service is yet to be operationalised.Senior SWR officials maintained the bi-weekly train has not been cancelled and will be introduced once timetable coordination between railway zones is finalised. "The service will be flagged off soon," a senior official said, adding that additional special trains could be considered depending on passenger demand and platform availability in both cities.