Mangaluru: Patrons of Train No 16513 KSR Bengaluru-Karwar overnight express, who had got the train speeded up after it was diverted via Kunigal four-days a week through hard bargaining, are an annoyed lot as the train will now be slowed down by about an hour between Mangaluru and Karwar during the monsoon.

Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. (KRCL) gives effect to the Monsoon Timetable between June 10 and October 31 every year when several trains are slowed down to prevent any mishap during the heavy rain on the coast, particularly in the Konkan region falling in Maharashtra and Goa.

The departure timing of Bengaluru-Karwar Express during the monsoon gets considerably altered (non-monsoon timings are given in brackets), as it leaves Mangaluru Central at 6.25 a.m. (6.20 a.m.), Surathkal at 8.04 a.m. (7.08 a.m.), Udupi at 8.42 a.m. (7.52 a.m.), Kundapur at 9.26 a.m. (8.22 a.m.) and Murdeshwar at 10.42 a.m. (10.20 a.m.) to reach Karwar at 1.15 p.m. (12.30 p.m.).

“Train No 16513/16514 Bengaluru-Karwar-Bengaluru Users Association” was very critical of KRCL’s move and said that people travelling from Bengaluru towards Karwar would have to suffer the ordeal of late arrival for five months. It urged KRCL to reverse the monsoon timetable for Train 16513 and make efforts to further speed up the train to reach Karwar, even before the regular schedule of 12.30 p.m.

In letters to KRCL, Mangaluru and Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MPs Nalin Kumar Kateel and Shobha Karandlaje, respectively, too have taken serious objections to KRCL’s decision.

They said tht it was the only train between the state capital and the coast receiving high patronage. Its operations should not be disturbed, the MPs said and asked KRCL to modify the schedule of Mangaluru Central-Madgaon Passenger, which leaves Mangaluru at 5.50 a.m., to give preference to Karwar Express.

KRCL Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Gupta told The Hindu that if Karwar Express has to run as per non-monsoon schedule, it would require major changes of running of eight other trains, which go across the nation.

The present monsoon timetable is in force since 13 years and KRCL has approached the Railway Board for possible changes.

To the suggestion of altering the Madgaon passenger’s schedule, Mr. Gupta said that KRCL is working on that proposal too.