The newly announced timetable for Train No. 16553/16554 SMVB–LTT–SMVB Express has generated mixed reactions among passengers across Karnataka and Maharashtra. Many commuters expressed disappointment over the overall journey duration.
Many rail users questioned the nearly 24-hour travel duration between Bengaluru and Mumbai, stating that the long-awaited service was expected to be significantly faster.
According to the official South Western Railway notification, Train No. 16553 SMVB-LTT Express will operate from SMVT Bengaluru every Tuesday and Saturday starting from May 19, 2026, while Train No. 16554 LTT-SMVB Express will depart from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus every Sunday and Wednesday starting from May 20, 2026. The service will operate as a bi-weekly express with 17 LHB coaches and maintenance support at SMVT Bengaluru and LTT. An inaugural one-way special train, numbered 06557, is also scheduled to run on May 13, 2026.
Passengers also raised concerns over the stoppage pattern, pointing out that the train has limited stops in Karnataka compared to Maharashtra. The Karnataka stops include Davanagere, Hubballi, Dharwad, and Belagavi, while Maharashtra has multiple halts such as Pune, Satara, Sangli, Karad, Lonavala, Kalyan, and Thane.
Many commuters from Karnataka urged Indian Railways and elected representatives to further improve the service by introducing daily operations and reducing travel time.
Even with criticism surrounding the timetable, the new train is being viewed as an important step in improving direct rail connectivity between Bengaluru, Hubballi, Belagavi, Pune, and Mumbai after years of public demand.
Good timings for Belagavi: As per the schedule, the train will arrive at Belagavi at 6:45 AM while heading towards Mumbai, allowing passengers to board early in the morning and reach Mumbai by evening. In the return direction, the train reaches Belagavi at 11:50 AM from Mumbai, offering a comfortable daytime arrival.
Train No. 16553 / 16554 SMVB – LTT – SMVB Express (Bi-Weekly) Timetable
| Station | Code | 16553 SMVB → LTT | 16554 LTT → SMVB |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMVT Bengaluru | SMVB | Dep: 20:35 (Sat & Tue) | Arr: 22:30 (Mon & Thu) |
| Sampige Road | SPGR | 23:00 (T) | 20:15 (T) |
| Davangere | DVG | 01:23 / 01:25 | 16:20 / 16:22 |
| Karajgi | KJG | 03:00 (T) | 15:55 (T) |
| SSS Hubballi Jn | UBL | 03:30 / 03:40 (PTT) • 04:05 / 04:15 (WTT) | 14:30 / 14:40 (PTT) • 14:40 / 14:50 (WTT) |
| Dharwad | DWR | 04:03 / 04:05 | 13:53 / 13:55 |
| Belagavi | BGM | 06:45 / 06:50 | 11:50 / 11:55 |
| Miraj Jn | MRJ | 10:50 / 10:55 (WTT) • 10:45 / 10:50 (PTT) | 09:35 / 09:40 (WTT) • 09:25 / 09:30 (PTT) |
| Sangli | SLI | 11:02 / 11:05 | 08:22 / 08:25 (T) |
| Karad | KRD | 12:02 / 12:05 | 06:52 / 06:55 |
| Satara | STR | 13:07 / 13:10 | 05:57 / 06:00 |
| Lonand | LNN | 14:17 / 14:20 | 04:43 / 04:45 |
| Pune | PUNE | 16:50 / 16:55 | 03:00 / 03:05 |
| Lonavala | LNL | 17:53 / 17:55 | 01:52 / 01:55 (PTT) |
| Karjat | KJT | 18:37 / 18:40 | 00:55 / 01:00 (PTT) |
| Kalyan | KYN | 19:27 / 19:30 | 00:02 / 00:05 (Mon & Thu) |
| Thane | TNA | 19:52 / 19:55 | 23:27 / 23:30 |
| Lokmanya Tilak Terminus | LTT | Arr: 20:40 (Sun & Wed) | Dep: 23:15 (Sun & Wed) |
