Passengers relying on the only dedicated night super-fast express connecting Hubballi to Bengaluru have voiced significant frustration over a recent schedule change. The South Western Railway's (SWR) decision to revise the timings of train numbers 20687/88, effective from January 1, has been met with strong opposition from the commuting public, who now find the new schedule highly inconvenient.
Passengers Decry Inconvenient Midnight Departure
The core of the grievance lies in the new departure time from Hubballi, which has been pushed back to 12.15 am from the previous 11.15 pm. Travellers argue that this shift creates multiple practical problems. Manjunath Kashigavi, who manages the Hubballi Dharwad Infra account on the social media platform X, highlighted the local challenges. He pointed out that as a tier-2 city, Hubballi's public transport, including city buses, ceases operations by 10.30 pm. Post this time, auto-rickshaws often charge double the fare, leaving passengers stranded or forcing them to seek late-night drops from family members.
On the Bengaluru end, the arrival schedule has also drawn criticism. The train is now slated to reach Yesvantpur at 6.30 am and then take an hour to cover the final 5 km to KSR Bengaluru City station, arriving at 7.30 am. Frequent traveller Varun Rao from Dharwad expressed concern that this arrival coincides with the peak morning rush at the city's main station, potentially causing further delays. This disruption affects office-goers and those needing to travel to distant parts of Bengaluru promptly.
Fears of Cancellation and Calls for Ministerial Intervention
The passenger community is deeply worried that these inconvenient timings will lead to a drop in patronage, which could eventually give SWR a reason to cancel the service altogether. This fear is not unfounded. It was noted that SWR had previously intended to cancel this train (then numbered 07339/40) in November 2023, citing low occupancy. The move was halted only after commuters provided evidence of waiting lists on weekdays, proving the service's demand.
In response to the latest change, many netizens and commuters are actively campaigning on social media, urging SWR to revert to the 11.15 pm departure. They are also seeking the intervention of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who represents the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency. However, Minister Joshi was unavailable for comment on the matter.
Railway's Response and Review Promise
When approached for a statement, Manjunath Kanamadi, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of SWR, offered a glimmer of hope to agitated passengers. He assured that all concerns raised by the public will be taken care of and confirmed that the railway authorities will review the revised timings. This indicates that the schedule change is not necessarily set in stone and could be amended based on passenger feedback and operational feasibility.
The night express holds particular importance for Hubballi as it is the only train originating from the city at night. It was introduced specifically because commuters were struggling to secure tickets on other popular expresses like the Rani Channamma and Gol Gumbaz, which originate from locations like Sangli, Pandharpur, and Belagavi. Its continued operation with user-friendly timings is seen as crucial for the connectivity and convenience of the region's residents.
