Bengaluru-Mangaluru/Karwar day train cancellation during peak Dasara travel season upsets many
South Western Railway will cancel the services for 26 round trips in October, excluding a week during the peak Dasara season
Source: The Hindu Feed · October 4, 2026 at 6:32 AM · AI-assisted report
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BENGALURU, 4 OCTOBER 2026 —
South Western Railway cancels 26 Bengaluru-Mangaluru/Karwar day train trips during peak Dasara season, disrupting winter travel plans
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South Western Railway (SWR) has announced the cancellation of 26 round-trip day train services between Bengaluru and Mangaluru/Karwar from October 4 to November 4, excluding a brief reprieve between October 16 and 20, disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers during the critical Dasara holiday season.
The decision, which follows a six-month suspension of day trains in 2025 for electrification works, has drawn sharp criticism from commuters and passenger associations, who argue the maintenance could have been scheduled during lower-demand periods or on weekdays to minimize disruptions.
The cancellations stem from essential track maintenance and engineering works between Siribagilu and Yedakumari stations on the Subrahmanya Road-Sakleshpur Ghat section of Mysuru Division. The affected trains include the Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru Junction Gomateshwara Express (16575/16576), Yeshwantpur-Karwar Express (16515/16516), and the Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru Junction weekly Express (16539/16540). The cancellations cover specific dates in October and early November, with services resuming only during the Dasara week (October 16–20).
G. Hanumanth Kamath, president of the Paschima Karavali Railway Yatri Abhivriddhi Samiti, questioned the timing of the works, noting that October is the peak winter travel season in South Karnataka. Schools and colleges are on Dasara break, and thousands travel to coastal Karnataka for Navaratri festivities and the Mangaluru Dasara, while others head to Mysuru for the Mysuru Dasara celebrations.
Kamath suggested the railway could have deferred the maintenance to November or conducted it on weekdays to avoid weekends, when passenger volumes are highest.
He also raised concerns about potential lobbying from other transport modes, stating: "Considering the timing, it raises suspicion about whether lobbies of other modes of transport were behind this cancellation." He urged the railways to either postpone the works until after Dasara or restrict them to weekdays.
Mysuru Divisional Railway Manager Mudit Mittal defended the decision, stating that ballast tamping work—a critical maintenance task—was long overdue between Yadakumari and Siribagilu, an area that has recently experienced landslides. "This is the least amount of time required for tamping and other works," he said, adding that train services would operate normally during the Dasara week (October 16–20).
The cancellations affect key routes: - Train No. 16575 (Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru Junction Gomateshwara Express) will be cancelled on October 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 22, 25, 27, 29, November 1, and 3. - Train No. 16576 (Mangaluru Junction-Yeshwantpur Gomateshwara Express) will not run on October 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 23, 26, 28, 30, November 2, and 4.
- Train No. 16515 (Yeshwantpur-Karwar Express) will be cancelled on October 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30, and November 2. - Train No. 16516 (Karwar-Yeshwantpur Express) will not operate on October 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31, and November 3. - Train No. 16539 (Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru Junction weekly Express) will be cancelled on October 10, 24, and 31.
- Train No. 16540 (Mangaluru Junction-Yeshwantpur weekly Express) will not run on October 11, 25, and November 1.
The cancellations follow a similar six-month suspension of day trains between June and December 2025 for electrification works on the same ghat section. Commuters and associations have expressed frustration, arguing that the railway could have planned the maintenance more considerately to avoid overlapping with peak travel periods.
The disruption comes as South Western Railway faces increasing scrutiny over its ability to balance infrastructure upgrades with passenger convenience, particularly during festive seasons when demand surges. The decision to resume services only during the Dasara week (October 16–20) offers limited relief, leaving travelers to rely on alternative transport options, including private vehicles and buses, for the remainder of the month.
Related: South Western Railway · Mysuru Division · G. Hanumanth Kamath · Bengaluru