South Western Railway Proposes New Vande Bharat Between Shivamogga and Tirupati, May Shift Janshatabdi Maintenance to New Kotegangur Terminal
South Western Railway's Bangalore Divisional Office has put together a tentative action plan for how trains will be handled once the upcoming coaching terminal at Kotegangur, near Shivamogga, becomes operational. The plan, sent to the Chief Passenger Transportation Manager in Hubli, lays out two major proposals, a brand new Vande Bharat Express connecting Shivamogga to Tirupati, and a possible change in how the existing SBC-Shivamogga Janshatabdi Express is maintained.
A new Vande Bharat Express for Shivamogga
The first and bigger proposal is to introduce a new Vande Bharat Express running between Shivamogga Town and Tirupati, via Bengaluru's Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal and Jolarpettai Junction. Here is the tentative schedule that has been worked out:
| Station | Shivamogga to Tirupati | Tirupati to Shivamogga |
|---|---|---|
| Shivamogga Town | Departure 04:30 | Arrival 23:55 |
| Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal, Bengaluru | 09:15 / 09:20 | 19:40 / 19:45 |
| Jolarpettai Junction | 11:20 | 17:40 |
| Tirupati | Arrival 14:15 | Departure 14:45 |
Under this plan, the train's primary maintenance would be based at the new Kotegangur terminal, while periodic fitness checks would be handled at the Tirupati end.
Could the Janshatabdi Express move its maintenance to Kotegangur?
The second part of the plan looks at train no. 12089/12090, the Bengaluru City-Shivamogga Janshatabdi Express. Currently, 12089 leaves Bengaluru City at 17:15 and reaches Shivamogga at 21:40, while the return train, 12090, leaves Shivamogga at 05:15 and reaches Bengaluru City at 09:50.
Right now, this rake has a lie over of 7 hours 25 minutes at Bengaluru City, where it undergoes primary maintenance on two days a week and simply sits stabled for the remaining five. At Shivamogga, it has a lie over of 7 hours 35 minutes, during which it gets periodic fitness attention.
According to the division's proposal, shifting the train's primary maintenance from Bengaluru City to Kotegangur could free up two pit maintenance slots in Bengaluru's Grid-2 yard, and vacate five days worth of stabling line space that is currently occupied by this rake. It could also allow the train to be considered for an extension beyond Bengaluru City in the future, doing away with the long lie over there altogether, ease congestion in the already stretched Grid-2 yard, and free up capacity for Bengaluru City to handle additional trains.
What's next?
It is worth stressing that this is a tentative action plan submitted for consideration, not a confirmed or approved change. Both the new Vande Bharat Express and the proposed shift in the Janshatabdi's maintenance base will need further examination and approval before they can move ahead. RailJournal will bring you an update as soon as there is more clarity on this proposal.
Comments (5)
I think if it reach early it will be good.