Railway Ministry regularises services of Vijayapura-Mangaluru Central-Vijayapura Express Special

The Railway Ministry on Friday, June 27, approved South Western Railway’s proposal to regularise the services of Train No. 07377/ 378 Vijayapura-Mangaluru Central-Vijayapura Express Special thereby bringing much relief to patrons who had been demanding regularisation of the services.

Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Captain Brijesh Chowta on Saturday (June 28, 2025) said, “Pleased to share that the long-pending demand to regularise the Vijayapura-Manglauru train has been fulfilled, much to the relief of passengers between the two cities. This move will benefit patients from North Karnataka seeking medical care in Mangaluru, students pursuing education in coastal districts and regular passengers.” He further said, “Much gratitude to our Minister of Railways Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State Shri V Somanna for enabling this.”

Consequently, the services would run with regular numbers, Train Nos. 17377 and 17378, from an early convenient date. Passengers had to pay enhanced fares on the Special (train on demand) services compared to the regular services.

Change in departure timing

The Ministry had in June first week approved SWR’s proposal to revise departure timing of Train No. 17378 from 2.35 pm to 4.45 pm from Mangaluru Central with effect from July 1. The June 27 notification regularising the services mentions departure timing as 4.45 pm from Mangaluru thereby indicating the regular services too would commence from July 1.

The departure timing of Mangaluru Central-Vijayapura Express at important en-route stations from July 1 would be as under; Subrahmanya Road 7 pm; Hassan, 10.30 pm; Davanagere, 1.50 am; Haveri, 3.02 am; Hubballi, 4.50 am; Gadag, 6.20 am and Bagalakote, 7.58 am. The train reaches Vijayapura at 11.15 am instead of 9.35 am. There is no change in the timing of Train No. 17377, Vijayapura-Mangaluru Central Express that leaves Vijayapura at 3 pm to reach Mangaluru Central at 9.50 am.

Introduced in 2019

Introduced in November 2019 between Vijayapura and Mangaluru Junction, the special trains were cancelled during COVID-19 outbreak and were restored from December 1, 2021. They were extended to Mangaluru Central from April 20, 2024.

Passenger associations in Mangaluru, Davanagere, Hubballi and Vijayapura, the then Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, incumbent Capt. Chowta and Vijayapura MP Ramesh C. Jigajinagi had urged the Ministry to regularise the services. The Indian Railway Timetable Committee (IRTTC) too had recommended the regularisation in 2022. The Ministry had been extending the special services every six months.