Coastal Karnataka & North Karnataka Are Now Connected With Train Service: Here Are The Details

November 14: The Vijayapura-Mangalore Junction Tatkal Special Express (Train No 07327) in the city on November 12, Tuesday afternoon. The arrival of the train has made way for a new era of connectivity between North Karnataka and Coastal Karnataka that had been in demand from people of both the regions.
The train not only connects the coast with the North, but also connects the Hassan region with the North. Though the shortest route between Mangalore and Dharwad/Vijayapura is via Madgaon (733 km as against 783 km via Arsikere), South Western Railway has introduced this train via Arsikere so as to benefit Central Karnataka too. The train leaves Vijayapura at 6 p.m.; Gadag at 10.30 p.m.; Hubballi at 11.45 p.m.; Davangere at 2.35 a.m. and Hassan at 6.15 a.m. to reach Mangalore Junction at 12.40 p.m. In the return direction, the train leaves Mangalore Junction at 4.30 p.m.; Hassan at 10.02 p.m.; Davangere at 1.20 a.m.; Hubballi at 5.15 a.m. and Gadag at 6.55 a.m. to reach Vijayapura at 11.45 a.m.
It halts at Basavanabagewadi, Alamatti, Bagalkot, Badami, Guledgudda, Hole Alur, Gadag, Hubballi, Haveri, Byadgi, Ranebennur, Harihar, Davangere, Kadur, Arsikere, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabaka Puttur and Bantwal.
The train would be operational till February 10, 2020 ex-Vijayapura and till February 11 ex-Mangalore Junction, while in all likelihood it will be regularised after South Western Railway gets the nod from the Railway Board.
The earlier train connectivity between the two regions was lost after the cancellation of Mangalore-Miraj Mahalakshmi Express via Hubballi when the gauge conversion was taken up about three decades ago.
Since the coastal areas are the hub of education and healthcare, this attracts thousands of students and patients from the northern districts. The new train offering an affordable journey Rs. 214 in General and Rs. 530 in Second Class Sleeper has come like a blessing.