Mysuru: The long wait for train services between Hassan and Bengaluru is over and the service has received a good response from the passengers surprising many. Within a day of being launched, the Gomateshwara Express has become primary mode of transport for hundreds indicating the need to press for more trains.

On Monday, that is a day after the inauguration of the train, 680 unreserved tickets were sold and 198 reserved tickets were booked from Hassan to Bengaluru while on the second day, that is on Tuesday, more than 500 unreserved tickets were sold. This indicates the potential passenger traffic the stretch has got. Though there was a demand for this train the passenger rush that it has attracted has really surprised many. On Monday, the train left Bengaluru at 6.30pm and reached Hassan at 10pm instead of the scheduled 9pm. The delay was owing to the fact that it is a new line but once the rail line gets adjusted the travelling time will further come down.

The Gomateshwara intercity express will depart Hassan at 6.15am and reach Yesvanthpur at 9am. On its return journey it will depart Bengaluru at 6.15 pm and reach Hassan at 9 pm. The unreserved fare from Hassan to Bengaluru is Rs 85 and in case of reservation it will be Rs 100.

Speaking to Newskarnataka Sridhar Murthy, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Bengaluru Division, South Western Railway said “We are overwhelmed by the response. However, we had expected this. On Wednesday, one more train, extension of T.No. T.No.56216/56215 Mysuru-Shravanabelagola daily passengers to Yesvantpur will be operational”.

South Western Railway on Tuesday decided to extend T.No.56216/56215 Mysuru-Shravanabelagola daily passengers to Yesvantpur with effect from Wednesday (from both directions) on the new BG railway line from Bengaluru to Hassan (via Nelamangala, Kunigal, Shravanabelagola & Channarayapattana. T.No.56216 Mysuru-Yesvantpur Daily Passenger (Via Krishnarajanagar, Holenarsipur, Hassan, Channarayapattana, Shravanabelagola, Yediyuru, Kunigal, Nelamangala) will depart Mysuru at 8.30am and arrive at Yesvantpur at 2.45pmwhile Yesvantpur-Mysuru Daily Passenger (Via Nelamangala, Kunigal, Yediyuru, Shravanabelagola, Channarayapattana, Hassan, Holenarsipur, Krishnarajanagar) will depart Yesvantpur at 1pm and arrive in Mysuru at 8pm.