You ask any resident of Bengaluru city about the traffic ordeals he/she goes through on a daily basis. You will hear one common answer—it is getting worse every day. Though it is more than seven years for Namma Metro in construction, the city will have to wait for one more year or so, to see its first phase fully implemented. Once completed, it will give some respite to those who live or work in its catchment areas. But, those who do not live or work around the Namma Metro route, keep asking what is in for them.
More than their quest for reliable Public Transport system, it is in Bengaluru City’s interest to have additional mass public transport systems to be sustainable in long run. Now the residents tired of daily traffic ordeals are stepping out and venturing out to find additional modes of Public Transport system other than BMTC Buses without having to wait for Metro to complete. Are there any other choices for daily commute?
Trains are the most sustainable mode of transport
Much before the Bengaluru city started to encounter the unprecedented growth and traffic issues, city residents from the city and its suburbs including the surrounding towns of Ramanagarm, Tumkur, Bangarpet and Doddaballapur have been using the regular long distance trains for their daily commute. One main reasons being travel by trains is economical, when compared to KSRTC buses. The railway’s monthly and quarterly season passes work out cheaper. KSRTC didn’t offer monthly pass system then.
In 80s, KSRTCS fare from Bengaluru to Ramanagram used to be Rs 6 whereas railway monthly season pass worked out to be Rs 45. Moreover the predictability of arrival/departure timings is the big plus which people like about trains. These two factors weighed very much on people to use trains for their daily commute.
Even today, single fare in train to Ramangaram is Rs 20, the monthly pass works out be Rs 300. Can there be a more economical option than this? Though it may not be the ideal fare given the high cost of operations, this is what the railway offers today. It can go higher to sustain the operational cost. But it will still work out to be cheaper than using personal vehicles or buses. More importantly, it is sustainable and environmental-friendly choice.
Now in 2015, the choice to use trains for the daily commute has much more rationale than before. Incidentally a lot of younger generation is now opting for the trains for their daily commute. According to 2012 RITES report, there are about 1.5 to 2 lakh commuters who use trains on daily basis in and around Bengaluru City. It will only increase, not decrease, even though there hasn’t been much effort from South Western Railway which serves Bengaluru City, suburbs and the surrounding towns to address this segment.
Small gestures
Since 2010, owing to public pressure and pressure from railway ministers from the state, SWR has added a couple of dedicated suburban trains to Hosur, Devanahalli, Nelamangala and the recent DEMU service to Ramanagaram. Though not all of them are at convenient times, still people continue to patronise the services. The services towards the city during morning hours, and from the city during evenings run full. This only points to the urgent need for a full-fledged ‘suburban train’ services. Are the governments, both at the state and centre, listening?
A number of citizens groups have been active on this issue. Prominent among them are Praja-RAAG, Whitefield Rising, Citzens4Better Bengaluru and associations like WACIA, WEPPIA etc. With their constant efforts and liaison with area MPs, in next 6-9 months there would be a new halt station at Hoody/ITPL area in Whitefield. The station is being funded by MPLADS funds of the Bangalore Central MP P C Mohan. Their demand for extending Ramangaram-SBC service to Whitefield is still to be fulfilled, but the demand is being considered.
Suburban train timings
Now a new initiative has been started to publicise the various trains that runs between Bengaluru and various towns around it. Facebook is being used as media to disseminate information on trains and their timings in respective directions. It is being promoted by Namma Railu advocacy group from Praja-RAAG. The promoters of this campaign are hoping that people will benefit from this information and hopefully would start using it based on their convenience.
| Towards Chikkaballapur | ||||||
| No. | Name | Type | From | Dep ↑↑ | To | Arr |
| 76551 | Bangalore City – Kolar | DEMU | SBC* | 8:30 | CBP | 10:50 |
| 6595 | Yesvantpur – Chikballapur | Pass | YPR* | 10:35 | CBP* | 12:15 |
| 56525 | Bangalore City – Chikballapur | Pass | SBC* | 18:10 | CBP* | 19:45 |
| From Chikballapur | ||||||
| No. | Name | Type | From | Dep ↑↑ | To | Arr |
| 56526 | Chik Ballapur – Bangalore | Pass | CBP* | 7:55 | SBC* | 9:45 |
| 6596 | Chikballapur – Yesvantpur | Pass | CBP* | 12:40 | YPR* | 14:35 |
| 76552 | Kolar – Bangalore City | DEMU | CBP | 15:55 | SBC* | 18:00 |
| Towards Doddaballapur | |||||||
| No. | Name | Type | From | Via | Dep ↑↑ | To | Arr |
| 56503 | Bangalore Cantt. – Vijaywada | Pass | BNC* | BNC | 7:40 | DBU | 8:54 |
| 56523 | Bangalore City – Hindupur | Pass | SBC* | YPR | 17:45 | DBU | 18:41 |
| 12786 | Bengaluru City – Kachiguda | SF | SBC* | BNC | 18:20 | DBU | 19:24 |
| 11302 | Udyan Express (PT) | Exp | SBC* | BNC | 20:30 | DBU | 21:39 |
| 16592 | Hampi Express | Exp | SBC | 6 | 22:00 | DBU | 22:59 |
| 16594 | Bangalore City-Hazursaheb Nanded | Exp | SBC* | YPR | 22:45 | DBU | 23:39 |
| From Doddaballapur | |||||||
| No. | Name | Type | From | Via | Dep ↑↑ | To | Arr |
| 16593 | Hazur Sahib Nanded-Bangalore | Exp | DBU | YPR | 3:20 | SBC* | 5:30 |
| 16591 | Hampi Express | Exp | DBU | BNC | 4:35 | SBC | 6:10 |
| 12785 | Kacheguda – Bengaluru | SF | DBU | BNC | 5:04 | SBC* | 6:25 |
| 11301 | Udyan Express | Exp | DBU | BNC | 7:02 | SBC* | 8:50 |
| 56524 | Hindupur – Bangalore | Pass | DBU | YPR | 7:52 | SBC* | 9:25 |
| 56504 | Vijayawada – Bangalore | Pass | DBU | BNC | 14:40 | BNC* | 17:10 |
| Towards Tumkur | ||||||
| No. | Name | Type | From | Dep ↑↑ | To | Arr |
| 56925 | Bangalore- Tumkur Passenger | Pass | SBC* | 5:30 | TK* | 6:50 |
| 56917 | Bangalore – Shimoga | Pass | SBC* | 6:30 | TK | 7:53 |
| 56913 | Bangalore- Hubli Fast | Pass | SBC* | 6:30 | TK | 7:53 |
| 56519 | Bangalore – Chitradurga | Pass | SBC* | 7:45 | TK | 9:16 |
| 56515 | Bangalore City – Hubli | Pass | SBC* | 7:45 | TK | 9:18 |
| 56221 | Bangalore Tumkur Passenger | Pass | SBC* | 9:20 | TK* | 11:05 |
| 56225 | Bangalore – Tumkur Passenger | Pass | SBC* | 13:40 | TK* | 15:25 |
| 56278 | Yesvantpur – Chikkamagalur | Pass | YPR* | 15:15 | TK | 16:48 |
| 16201 | Bangalore City-Shimoga | Exp | SBC* | 15:30 | TK | 16:38 |
| 16577 | Yeshvantpur – Harihar | Exp | YPR* | 16:15 | TK | 17:28 |
| 56227 | Bangalore City – Shimoga | Pass | SBC* | 16:30 | TK | 18:03 |
| 56223 | Bangalore Arsikere Passenger | Pass | SBC* | 18:20 | TK | 20:00 |
| 16535 | Gol Gumbaz Express | Exp | SBC | 18:45 | TK | 20:33 |
| 16589 | Rani Chennamma Express | Exp | SBC* | 21:15 | TK | 22:25 |
| 56909-Slip | Bangalore City-Hospet | Pass | SBC* | 22:15 | TK | 23:43 |
| 56909 | Bangalore City-Hubli | Pass | SBC* | 22:15 | TK | 23:43 |
| 16227 | Bangalore-Talguppa Express | Exp | SBC* | 23:00 | TK | 0:18 |
| From Tumkur | ||||||
| No. | Name | Type | From | Dep ↑↑ | To | Arr |
| 16228 | Talguppa-Bangalore Express | Exp | TK | 2:35 | SBC* | 4:30 |
| 56912 | Hubli Bangalore Fast | Pass | TK | 3:10 | SBC* | 5:15 |
| 56910 | Hospet – Bangalore Passenger | Pass | TK | 3:10 | SBC* | 5:15 |
| 16590 | Rani Chennamma Express | Exp | TK | 5:40 | SBC* | 7:00 |
| 16536 | Gol Gumbaz Express | Exp | TK | 6:30 | SBC | 8:10 |
| 56224 | Arsikere- Bangalore Passenger | Pass | TK | 7:20 | SBC* | 9:10 |
| 56926 | Tumkur- Bangalore Passenger | Pass | TK* | 8:15 | SBC* | 9:50 |
| 56228 | Shimoga Bangalore Passenger | Pass | TK | 8:45 | SBC* | 11:20 |
| 16202 | Shimoga Town -Bangalore | Exp | TK | 10:25 | SBC* | 11:55 |
| 56222 | Tumkur Bangalore Passenger | Pass | TK* | 11:20 | SBC* | 13:10 |
| 56277 | Chikkamagalur – Yesvantpur | Pass | TK | 12:00 | YPR* | 14:15 |
| 56226 | Tumkur Bangalore Passenger | Pass | TK* | 15:50 | SBC* | 17:40 |
| 56516 | Hubli – Bangalore City | Pass | TK | 17:50 | SBC* | 20:10 |
| 56914 | Hubli – Bangalore passenger | Pass | TK | 19:10 | SBC* | 21:15 |
| Towards Ramanagaram | ||||||
| No. | Name | Type | From | Dep ↑↑ | To | Arr |
| 16021 | Kaveri Express | Exp | SBC | 4:00 | RMGM | 4:44 |
| 56233 | Bangalore-Mysore Pass | Pass | SBC* | 5:00 | RMGM | 5:54 |
| 16591 | Hampi Express | Exp | SBC | 6:30 | RMGM | 7:19 |
| 16235 | Tuticorin – Mysore Exp | Exp | SBC | 7:00 | RMGM | 7:49 |
| 56214 | Tirupati – Chamarajanagar | Pass | SBC | 7:30 | RMGM | 8:24 |
| 16536 | Gol Gumbaz Express | Exp | SBC | 8:15 | RMGM | 9:01 |
| 56232 | Bangalore – Mysore | Pass | SBC* | 9:20 | RMGM | 10:17 |
| 16558 | Bengaluru City- Myso… | Exp | SBC* | 10:30 | RMGM | 11:18 |
| 17308 | Basava Express | Exp | SBC | 11:15 | RMGM | 12:01 |
| 16024 | Malgudi Express | Exp | SBC | 13:20 | RMGM | 14:08 |
| 56282 | Bangalore Chamarajanagar | Pass | SBC* | 15:30 | RMGM | 16:26 |
| 6540 | Bengaluru City – Ramanagaram | DEMU | SBC* | 16:30 | RMGM* | 17:40 |
| 16216 | Chamundi Express | Exp | SBC* | 18:15 | RMGM | 19:04 |
| 56238 | Bangalore-Mysore | Pass | SBC* | 19:00 | RMGM | 19:54 |
| 16517 | Bangalore City – Kannur | Exp | SBC* | 20:30 | RMGM | 21:15 |
| 16523 | Bangalore City – Karwar | Exp | SBC* | 20:30 | RMGM | 21:15 |
| 56264 | Night Queen Pass | Pass | SBC* | 23:55 | RMGM | 0:54 |
| From Ramanagaram | ||||||
| No. | Name | Type | From | Dep ↑↑ | To | Arr |
| 56263 | Night Queen Pass | Pass | RMGM | 2:00 | SBC* | 4:00 |
| 56231 | Mysore – Bangalore Pass | Pass | RMGM | 7:38 | SBC* | 9:00 |
| 16215 | Chamundi Express | Exp | RMGM | 8:25 | SBC* | 9:30 |
| 16023 | Malgudi Express | Exp | RMGM | 9:50 | SBC | 11:10 |
| 56281 | Chamarajanagar Bangalore | Pass | RMGM | 10:35 | SBC* | 12:00 |
| 17307 | Basava Express | Exp | RMGM | 15:05 | SBC | 16:40 |
| 16557 | Mysore – Bengaluru City | Exp | RMGM | 15:50 | SBC* | 17:10 |
| 56237 | Mysore-Bangalore | Pass | RMGM | 16:30 | SBC* | 18:00 |
| 16535 | Gol Gumbaz Express | Exp | RMGM | 17:05 | SBC | 18:25 |
| 6539 | Ramanagaram – Bangaluru | DEMU | RMGM* | 18:35 | SBC* | 19:50 |
| 56213 | Chamarajanagar – Tirupati | Pass | RMGM | 18:50 | SBC | 20:15 |
| 16236 | Mysore-Tuticorin Express | Exp | RMGM | 19:20 | SBC | 21:00 |
| 16210 | Mysore-Ajmer Express | Exp | RMGM | 19:50 | SBC | 21:30 |
| 16592 | Hampi Express | Exp | RMGM | 20:15 | SBC | 21:50 |
| 56234 | Mysore Bangalore Pass | Pass | RMGM | 20:48 | SBC* | 22:25 |
| 16022 | Kaveri Express | Exp | RMGM | 22:00 | SBC | 23:25 |
| Towards Whitefield | ||||||
| No. | Name | Type | From | Dep ↑↑ | To | Arr |
| 56510 | Bangalore Marikuppam… | Pass | SBC* | 7:00 | WFD | 7:44 |
| 12610 | Bangalore-Chennai In… | SF | SBC | 8:12 | WFD | 8:34 |
| 56262 | Bangalore – Arakkona… | Pass | SBC* | 8:45 | WFD | 9:24 |
| 66530 | Bangalore Bangarpet … | MEMU | SBC* | 9:45 | WFD | 10:21 |
| 76511 | Bangalore Marikuppam… | DEMU | SBC* | 12:20 | WFD | 12:59 |
| 66532 | Bangalore – Marikupp… | MEMU | SBC* | 14:45 | WFD | 15:22 |
| 16520 | Bangalore Jolarpetta… | Exp | SBC* | 17:30 | WFD | 18:06 |
| 56508 | Swarna Passenger (Un… | Pass | SBC* | 18:05 | WFD | 18:47 |
| 16522 | Bangalore Bangarapet… | Exp | SBC* | 19:35 | WFD | 20:11 |
| 76520 | Bangalore city Marik… | DEMU | SBC* | 20:15 | WFD | 20:49 |
| 56213 | Chamarajanagar – Tir… | Pass | SBC | 20:45 | WFD | 21:21 |
| 16022 | Kaveri Express | Exp | SBC | 23:45 | WFD | 0:23 |
| From Whitefield | ||||||
| No. | Name | Type | From | Dep ↑↑ | To | Arr |
| 16021 | Kaveri Express | Exp | WFD | 2:25 | SBC | 3:30 |
| 56214 | Tirupati – Chamaraja… | Pass | WFD | 5:15 | SBC | 6:55 |
| 16525 | Island Express | Exp | WFD | 6:00 | SBC* | 7:20 |
| 76519 | Marikuppam Bangalore… | DEMU | WFD | 6:20 | SBC* | 7:40 |
| 16519 | Jolarpettai Bangalor… | Exp | WFD | 6:55 | SBC* | 8:00 |
| 56507 | Swarna Passenger (Un… | Pass | WFD | 8:05 | SBC* | 9:15 |
| 66529 | Kuppam Bangalore ME… | MEMU | WFD | 8:30 | SBC* | 9:30 |
| 76512 | Marikuppam Bangalore… | DEMU | WFD | 9:29 | SBC* | 10:30 |
| 17210 | Seshadri Express (PT… | Exp | WFD | 11:15 | SBC* | 12:30 |
| 66531 | Bangarapet Bangalore… | MEMU | WFD | 13:22 | SBC* | 14:20 |
| 56509 | Marikuppam Bangalore… | Pass | WFD | 15:30 | SBC* | 17:00 |
| 56261 | Arakkonam – Bangalor… | Pass | WFD | 17:50 | SBC* | 18:45 |
| 12609 | Chennai-Bangalore In… | SF | WFD | 19:02 | SBC | 19:33 |
| 16521 | Bangarapet-Bangalore… | Exp | WFD | 22:25 | SBC* | 23:25 |
| Towards Hosur | ||||||
| No. | Name | Type | From | Dep ↑↑ | To | Arr |
| 6591 | Yesvantpur – Hosur Pass | Pass | YPR* | 6:30 | HSRA* | 8:00 |
| 56514 | Bangalore City – Karaikal | Pass | SBC* | 7:15 | HSRA | 8:32 |
| 76523 | Yesvantpur- Hosur DEMU | DEMU | YPR* | 14:55 | HSRA* | 16:30 |
| 56242 | Yesvantpur – Salem Pass | Pass | YPR* | 16:05 | HSRA | 17:31 |
| 17235 | Bengaluru City – Nagercoil | Exp | SBC* | 17:00 | HSRA | 18:09 |
| 76553 | Bangalore Dharmapuri | DEMU | SBC* | 18:30 | HSRA | 19:35 |
| 16232 | Mysore – Mayiladuthur | Exp | SBC | 19:00 | HSRA | 20:03 |
| 16527 | Yesvantpur – Kannur | Exp | YPR* | 20:00 | HSRA | 21:08 |
| 16236 | Mysore-Tuticorin Express | Exp | SBC | 21:15 | HSRA | 22:23 |
| 11013 | Mumbai LTT – Coimbatore | Exp | SBC | 22:15 | HSRA | 23:13 |
| From Hosur | ||||||
| No. | Name | Type | From | Dep ↑↑ | To | Arr |
| 16231 | Mayiladuthurai – Mysore | Exp | HSRA | 3:45 | SBC | 5:50 |
| 16235 | Tuticorin – Mysore Exp | Exp | HSRA | 4:45 | SBC | 6:40 |
| 16528 | Kannur – Yesvantpur | Exp | HSRA | 5:10 | YPR* | 8:00 |
| 76554 | Dharmapuri Bangalore | DEMU | HSRA | 6:33 | SBC* | 8:10 |
| 17236 | Nagercoil-Bengaluru | Exp | HSRA | 7:00 | SBC* | 9:05 |
| 6592 | Hosur-Yesvantpur Pass | Pass | HSRA* | 8:15 | YPR* | 9:50 |
| 56241 | Salem – Yesvantpur Pass | Pass | HSRA | 8:30 | YPR* | 10:45 |
| 11014 | Coimbatore – Mumbai | Exp | HSRA | 14:20 | SBC | 15:45 |
| 56513 | Karaikal Bangalore City | Pass | HSRA | 16:45 | SBC* | 19:00 |
| 76524 | Hosur-Yesvantpur DEMU | DEMU | HSRA* | 17:50 | YPR* | 19:20 |
| 12678 | Ernakulam-Bengaluru City | SF | HSRA | 18:15 | SBC* | 19:50 |
The information can also be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/BengaluruSuburbanTrains
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sir
from yeshwantha pura number of trains is departing in between 1 30 p m to 4 30 pm
this trains are neather full from passingers nor this timings help full to
traveles so our request is to arrange this trains with regular intervals
minimum an hour gap
say 1.15 siddaganga inter city
2.15 tumkur passinger
3.15 chikkamangalore
4.15 shivamoga inter city
5.15 shivamoga passinger
6.00 basava experess from tumkur side
6.30 on wards regular trains
although here are n number of trains commuting between bangalore to tumkur none of them are on time and especially for office goers. either it is too early as 7:45 ( 2 trains ). The conveyance by train is good only for commuters between tumkur bangalore tumkur and not bangalore -tumkur bangalore. A slight change in the train timings bot morning and evening ie from yeshvanthpur at 9 towards tumkur instead of 9:25 and sharp 5:45 from tumkur towards bangalore will help a lot of commuters to save time and money. My earnest request to shedule this timimgs.
Please arrange for some local trains from K.R.Puram to Yeshwanthpur so that the dependabilty on cabs,buses will come down.
It would be interesting to get a chart for stations like Byappanahalli, KR Puram, etc.
For eg, there are also a few other trains to KR Puram – Sanghamitra express 12295 which leaves around 9 from City station and reaches around 9:30 AM.
Byappanahalli has some more trains like the ones going towards Kolar. (76551)
The Arakkonam passenger(56262) that leaves at 8:45 AM is a sad train that is always de-prioritised. I spent 3 months commuting between the City and KR Puram and have seen this train being on time maybe twice max. It is usually made to stand by at Byappanahalli so that the SF Sanghamitra express can go ahead.
In general, if you have to take a train to get to work in Whitefield the best option is the Chennai SF(12610), which is usually on time, maybe 10 mins late max.