Travelling between Bengaluru and Mumbai — two of India’s busiest metro cities — is set to get faster and more convenient. The Indian Railways has approved a second direct superfast train connecting the two cities. The second train on the route comes nearly 30 years after the launch of the Udyan Express.
The new service, aimed at reducing travel time by reportedly around 18 hours, will provide a quicker alternative to the existing Udyan Express. The present train service between the two cities takes 23 hours and 35 minutes to cover the 1,136-km journey.
Expected route of the new train
The upcoming Superfast train will take a central Karnataka route via Hubballi-Dharwad, beginning from Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) in Bengaluru and terminating at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai. Key halts will include Tumakuru, Davangere, Haveri, Hubballi-Dharwad and Belagavi. These halts and routes remain tentative as no official announcement for the same has been made.
On the other hand, the Udyan Express’s route passes through Doddaballapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Yadgir, Kalaburagi and Solapur, making over 30 stops along the way. The stops include Bengaluru Cant, Yelahanka, Dodballapur, Gauribidanur, Hindupur, Penukonda, Sai P Nilayam, Dharmavaram, Anantapur, Guntakal, Adoni, Manthralayam RD, Raichur, Krishna, Saidapur, Yadgir, Nalwar, Wadi, Shahabad, Kalaburagi, Ganagapur Road, Dudhani, Akalkot Road, Solapur, Kurduvadi, Daund, Uruli, Pune, Lonavala, Kalyan and Dadar.
‘Long demand fulfilled’
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said the decision fulfills a long-standing demand from passengers in both Karnataka and Maharashtra. “There has been a persistent request to introduce another train through central Karnataka to improve access to Mumbai. This new service will significantly enhance regional connectivity and benefit lakhs of people,” he said in a social media post.
“Endless thanks to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for granting permission to start this new train, and to my dear colleague friend Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and Railway Minister of State Shri V Somanna,” Joshi wrote.
