South Western Railway has announced a special train service timed for the Christmas and New Year travel rush, while also cautioning passengers that essential engineering work will affect the normal running
of several trains on specific dates. The special service is meant to ease crowding and improve connectivity for passengers travelling across key Karnataka routes during the peak holiday week.
Special Train Service on December 24
As per the announcement, a special service will run on December 24, connecting Hubballi, Yesvantpur, and Vijayapura through major junctions. The first leg, Train No. 07379, will depart Hubballi at 12.00 PM and reach Yesvantpur at 8.30 PM.
On the way, it will pass through Haveri, Harihar, Davangere, Arsikere, and Tumakuru, making it a convenient option for passengers heading towards Bengaluru from the northern side of the state.
The onward leg, Train No. 06277, will depart Yesvantpur at 9.50 PM the same night and reach Vijayapura at 9.00 AM the next morning. This train will travel via Tumakuru, Arsikere, Davangere, Harihar, Badami, Bagalkot, and Almatti. With overnight travel built into the plan, it offers a direct option for passengers looking to reach Vijayapura by morning.
Engineering Work Between Tumakuru and Mallasanra
Alongside the special train announcement, South Western Railway said essential engineering works between Tumakuru and Mallasanra could lead to schedule changes and operational adjustments for multiple services. For daily commuters and intercity travellers, this matters because Tumakuru is a crucial corridor for rail movement into and out of Bengaluru.
The changes are scheduled across December 17, 20, 21, and 24, depending on the train, which means passengers travelling close to the holiday dates should double check boarding and termination stations.
Changes in Termination and Commencement Points
Several MEMU and express services will not run end to end on the notified dates. Train No. 66567 KSR Bengaluru to Tumakuru MEMU will terminate at Dodbele instead of Tumakuru on December 17, 20, 21, and 24. The return service, Train No. 66572 Tumakuru to KSR Bengaluru MEMU, will originate from Dodbele instead of Tumakuru on December 17, 20, and 24.
Long distance services are also impacted. Train No. 20652 Talguppa to KSR Bengaluru Express will terminate at Arsikere instead of KSR Bengaluru on December 17, 21, and 24. Similarly, Train No. 12725 KSR Bengaluru to Dharwad Express will originate from Arsikere instead of KSR Bengaluru on December 17, 20, 21, and 24. Train No. 12726 Dharwad to KSR Bengaluru Express will terminate at Arsikere instead of KSR Bengaluru on December 17 and 24.
Additional MEMU adjustments include Train No. 66571 KSR Bengaluru to Tumakuru MEMU terminating at Dodbele instead of Tumakuru on December 17 and 24, and Train No. 66568 Tumakuru to KSR Bengaluru MEMU originating from Dodbele instead of Tumakuru on December 17 and 24. Train No. 56281 Chamarajanagar to Tumakuru Passenger will terminate at Chikkabanavara instead of Tumakuru on December 17 and 24.
Some Trains Cancelled on December 17 and December 24
South Western Railway also stated that a few services will be cancelled on December 17 and December 24. These include Train No. 16239 Chikkamagaluru to Yesvantpur Express, Train No. 16240 Yesvantpur to Chikkamagaluru Express, and Train No. 12614 KSR Bengaluru to Mysuru Express.
What Passengers Should Do Now
With a special train added for December 24 and multiple disruptions across mid and late December, passengers should plan with extra buffer time, especially those relying on Tumakuru corridor trains and those boarding from KSR Bengaluru or Tumakuru.
Checking the updated train running status and platform information closer to travel time can prevent last minute surprises, particularly for commuters who may need to reach Dodbele, Arsikere, or Chikkabanavara due to revised start and end points.
