Bengaluru: The day train 'Kudla Express', recently introduced with much fanfare, has still not appeased Bengaluru and Mangaluru commuters. Their demand for a night train resulted in a proposal sent to the Railway Ministry by Zonal Railways User's Consultative Committee (ZRUCC)

“Bengalureans would ideally want a night train to Mangaluru. A better option would be to reroute the night train, Karwar Express, through Hassan to reach Mangluru,” said Mr Sanjeev Dyamnavar, a transport expert.

The proposal sent by ZRUCC states, “The KSR Bengaluru to Karwar overnight express should be diverted through Yeshwanthpur- Hassan new line instead of running on the existing route via Mandya-Mysuru"

"Currently, the Karwar Express takes close to 12 hours to reach Mangaluru. We do not have proper connectivity to our coastal towns. With rerouting, the travel time can be cut down by 2 to 2.5 hours," said Mr Krishna Prasad from the Karnataka Railway Vedike. Mr Dyamnavar, also part of the Vedike, said that the current route through Mysuru increases the distance by 50 km.

“People end up taking buses which are expensive. Bus operators fleece passengers when it is the rush season and people don't have any other option. The Karwar Express is also convenient as it starts at Majestic and ends at Mangluru Central, the main stations of both the cities," he said. The recently inaugurated Kudla Express begins at Yeshwanthpur and ends at Mangaluru junction, both not centrally located and difficult to access.

“Now it is summer vacation for schoolchildren. People going from Bengaluru to Mangluru for holidays, marriages or even official trips would prefer a night train with shorter travel time. There is high demand for this and this is the right time to launch it," Mr Prasad said.