BENGALURU — In light of a massive infrastructure and safety upgrade package at the Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) Bengaluru Station, the South Western Railway has announced comprehensive changes to train operations.
The extensive yard remodeling—aimed at improving signaling, upgrading to Electronic Interlocking (EI), and facilitating simultaneous train receptions and dispatches—will trigger widespread cancellations, partial cancellations, and major route diversions between June and August 2026.
Among the heavily impacted routes are key services connecting Bengaluru and Mysuru to Belagavi. Passengers planning travel on these corridors during this period are urged to review the revised schedules, as multiple premium and express trains face significant operational adjustments.
Key Impacts on Belagavi Train Services
The upgrade works will specifically alter three major train services serving Belagavi passengers, shifting regular terminals and bypassing long-standing urban halts.
1. Belagavi–KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express (Train Nos. 26751 / 26752)
The premium high-speed connectivity between Belagavi and the state capital will see shortened routes during the peak of the remodeling phase.
- Service Alteration: Partially cancelled between Yesvantpur and KSR Bengaluru.
- Affected Dates: Journey Commencing On (JCO) August 1, 2026, to August 3, 2026.
- Impact: Both the inbound service to Bengaluru and the outbound return service will temporarily originate and terminate at Yesvantpur Junction instead of KSR Bengaluru.
2. KSR Bengaluru–Belagavi Express (Train No. 20653)
While many trains are facing cuts, this specific service is receiving a temporary extension to accommodate alternative travel patterns.
- Service Alteration: Temporarily extended to change its point of origin.
- Affected Dates: JCO July 31, 2026, to August 3, 2026.
- Impact: The train will temporarily originate from Ramanagaram at 19:20 hrs instead of starting its journey from KSR Bengaluru.
3. Mysuru–Belagavi & Belagavi–Mysuru Express (Train Nos. 20676 / 20675)
The crucial inter-district lines linking Mysuru and Belagavi will completely bypass the heart of Bengaluru and its standard transition points to avoid the construction gridlock.
- Service Alteration: Widespread route diversions.
- Affected Dates: JCO August 1, 2026, to August 3, 2026.
- Diverted Routes:
- Train 20676 (Mysuru–Belagavi): Diverted to run via the Mysuru–Krishnarajanagar–Hassan–Arsikere bypass line.
- Train 20675 (Belagavi–Mysuru): Diverted to run via the Arsikere–Hassan–Krishnarajanagar–Mysuru bypass line.
- Skipped Stoppages: These diversions will completely skip key stations including KSR Bengaluru, Yesvantpur, Tumakuru, Mandya, Kengeri, Ramanagaram, Channapatna, Maddur, and Tiptur, among others.
Operational Benefits of the Upgrades
According to a statement released by Dr. Manjunath Kanamadi, Chief Public Relations Officer for South Western Railway, Hubballi, the temporary inconvenience is part of a crucial safety and efficiency overhaul.
Once completed, the yard remodeling will deliver several long-term benefits:
- Enhanced Safety: Replacing electrically detected points with motor-operated points and converting the existing SSI system to advanced Electronic Interlocking (EI).
- Smoother Traffic: Simultaneous reception and dispatch capabilities toward Mysuru and Bengaluru Cantonment grids.
- Increased Capacity: Extending Platform 7 to 600 meters to effortlessly handle full-length coaching trains.
- Freight Efficiency: Dedicated non-platform running lines to process freight trains, freeing up vital platform space for passenger traffic.
Passengers are highly advised to cross-check their travel dates against these changes and plan their commutes via connecting stations like Yesvantpur or alternative bypass routes.
