Trains on Bengaluru-Mangaluru sector to run on electric traction end-to-end soon

Very soon, both passenger bus and freight trains in the Bengaluru-Mangaluru/Karwar sector will run on end-to-end electric traction and Railway Electrification (RE) on the 55-kilometer Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road Ghat section is nearing completion.

Currently, trains in this sector still run on diesel traction and may be the only sector in the state where trains are operated using diesel locomotives. Railway routes between Mangaluru and Subrahmanya Road and Sakleshpur-Chikkabanawara/Arsikere/Mysuru were already electrified.

Coaching trains requiring loco change at Mangaluru Central, namely KSR Bengaluru-Kannur-KSR Bengaluru Express (16511/12) and SMVT Bengaluru-Murdeshwar-SMVT Bengaluru Express (16585/586), are running on electric traction between Mangaluru Central and Kannur/ Murdeshwar after loco change at Central.

The KSR Bengaluru-Karwar-KSR Bengaluru Panchaganga Express (16595/596), which bypasses both Mangaluru Central and Junction, runs entirely on diesel traction, although Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd., the network is fully electric. This was due to the lack of locomotive changing facilities between Mangaluru and Udupi.

Line block removed

South Western Railway will lift the 198 daily track blockage imposed from May 31 on the SKLR-SBHR Ghat section from December 16, enabling the resumption of daily train services in the Bengaluru-Mangaluru/Karwar sector.

SWR’s Mysuru Railway Division Manager Mudit Mittal said the RE is almost complete and some ancillary works are required before running the trains with electric traction. Hindu. Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES), the agency carrying out the RE on the Ghat section, sought a few more days to complete the work; but it doesn’t need line blocks.

Once RE is completed the line needs to be charged and tested. Mr. Mittal said this would be followed by a legal review by the Commissioner, following which the Railways would be authorized to run trains with electric traction system. DRM added that the entire process could be completed by January, after which trains could run on electric traction.

Suitable for Vande Bharat

Meanwhile, Mr. Mittal said the Railway Ministry has asked SWR to make the line between Chikkabanawara and Mangaluru suitable for operation of Vande Bharat Express trains. DRM added that the District is working on this and improving the tracks and systems to handle semi-high-speed rail.