Mangaluru: A second trial run of the 16-coach rake Vande Bharat train from Yesvantpur to Mangaluru Jn commenced on Thursday morning. Officers and staff from operations, electrical (TRD & TRO), mechanical and engineering departments were onboard the train to assess running time, operational aspects and safety parameters.According to a South Western Railway (SWR) official, the second run-time trial was completed ahead of schedule. The first trial was delayed because of strong winds in the ghat section, and misalignment between the overhead equipment and the pantograph. Another trial may be conducted if certain technical issues remain unresolved, a source said.Meanwhile, MLC Kishore Kumar Puttur welcomed the decision to grant temporary stoppage (trial run) for the Mangaluru-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express at Kabaka Puttur. The first full run on Sept 5 skipped the Kabaka Puttur station. In a statement, Kishore said they may make stoppage permanent and revise the train’s schedule.Rail users are upsetRail users from Daksina Kannada have expressed disappointment over a Ganesh Chaturthi special train announced between Yesvantpur-Madgaon skipping Mangaluru Junction and Mangaluru Central. The Dakshina Kannada District Railway Users’ Association, an online forum of patrons, wrote in a statement: “Mangaluru and the surrounding region contribute more than Rs 600 crore in railway revenue, yet when special trains are introduced to handle the additional rush during major festivals, the largest city and major railway hub of coastal Karnataka are bypassed.”The SWR has introduced a one-trip special (06591) Yesvantpur-Madgaon Special on Sept 11, and (06592) Madgaon-Bengaluru Cant on Sept 14.
