Bengaluru: Udyaan Express will no longer be the only direct train connecting Mumbai and Bengaluru. Following a series of cancellations and timetable revisions, a new bi-weekly express train will begin operations between the two cities from May 23. The Ministry of Railways has approved Train No. 16553/16554 - SMVT Bengaluru-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Bi-weekly Express.
Service Commencement and Schedule
On May 23, the train will embark on its inaugural journey from Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminus (SMVT) in Byappanahalli, Bengaluru. The return service from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai will be flagged off the following day. The train will depart from SMVT every Saturday and Tuesday at 8:35 PM, arriving in Mumbai at 8:40 PM the next day. From Mumbai, the service will start at 11:15 PM on Sundays and Wednesdays, reaching Bengaluru by 10:30 PM.
Route and Stoppages
En route, the train will halt at Sampige Road, Davanagere, Hubballi, Dharwad, Belagavi, Miraj, Sangli, Karad, Satara, Lonand, Pune, Lonavala, Karjat, Kalyan, and Thane.
Impact on Overcrowding and Speed
While the new train is expected to reduce overcrowding on the Udyaan Express on two days of the week, experts note that it will not provide faster connectivity. The travel time exceeds 23 hours. The Railway Board is expected to soon announce a superfast express train along the same route. Additionally, the much-anticipated Vande Bharat sleeper train, slated for launch in August, is expected to address the decade-long rail connectivity challenges between India's tech and financial capitals.
Inaugural Special and Regularisation
South Western Railway (SWR) will operate an inaugural special service of the train on May 17. The zone has also confirmed the regularisation of nine special trains. Short-distance trains to Channapatna, Hassan, Bangarpet, Ashokapuram, and Talguppa, along with an express train to Visakhapatnam, will be added to the timetable as part of this regularisation.
