MANGALURU:
In a significant move, the railway ministry has given the green light to extend the route of the Thiruvananthapuram-Kasargod Vande Bharat Express to include Mangaluru, enhancing connectivity between key cities in the region.
As per Vivek Kumar Sinha, the Joint Director of Coaching at the Railway Board, Train number 20631, the Mangaluru-Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express is scheduled to depart from the city at 6:15 am and arrive in Thiruvananthapuram at 3:05 pm. Operating on all days except Wednesdays, this service will bolster transportation options for passengers six days a week.
Conversely, train number 20632, the Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru Express, will depart from Thiruvananthapuram at 4:05 pm and reach Mangaluru at 12:40 am. Along its route, the train will make stopovers at prominent stations including Kasargod, Kannur, Calicut, Tirur, Shoranur, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, and Kollam, facilitating convenient travel for commuters.
Sinha also highlighted that primary maintenance operations for the train will be conducted at Mangaluru, ensuring efficient upkeep and operational readiness. Expressing gratitude for this development, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel extended thanks to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav for approving the request to extend the train’s route, thus bolstering regional connectivity and accessibility for passengers.
