As the new Linke-Hofmann-Busch (LHB) rake of the Mangaluru Central–Rameswaram weekly Express remains idle for five nights in Mangaluru, MP for Dakshina Kannada Capt. Brijesh Chowta has urged the Ministry of Railways to operate additional services from Mangaluru using the idle rake, thereby enhancing rail services for people in the region.

In a letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on June 24, Capt. Chowta said Train No. 16621, which leaves Rameswaram at 3.30 p.m. every Sunday, arrives at Mangaluru Central at 6.55 p.m. the next day. The rake then remains idle for a substantial part of the week before departing for Rameswaram at 7.30 p.m. every Saturday.

According to sources in the Railways, the rake is stabled at Mangaluru Central railway station on some days, at the Bunder Old Goods Shed on others, and occasionally at either Manjeshwar or Neeleswaram. The Railways is finding it difficult to accommodate the idle rake.

At a time when the Railways is striving for optimum asset utilisation and enhanced connectivity, this presents an opportunity for the productive deployment of the available rolling stock, the MP said in his letter.

“In this context, I request the Ministry to examine the feasibility of utilising the available rake for additional services originating from Mangaluru,” Capt. Chowta said.

Capt. Chowta said one option that merits consideration is the operation of a tri-weekly overnight service between Mangaluru and Bengaluru, a sector that continues to witness strong and consistent passenger demand.

Alternatively, the possibility of operating a bi-weekly overnight service between Mangaluru and Pune, which currently lacks a direct train service, could also be explored, he said.

Such an arrangement would enable more efficient utilisation of Railway assets while improving passenger convenience and enhancing rail connectivity in the region, the MP said.

The brand-new LHB rake comprises 22 coaches, including one end-on-generation (EOG) coach, four general second-class coaches, two AC two-tier coaches, eight AC three-tier coaches, and six sleeper-class coaches.