Direct train service from Udupi-Kundapura to Tirupati

Team Udayavani, Oct 9, 2024, 8:42 AM IST

Representative image

Kundapura: The long-standing demand of residents from Udupi and Kundapura for a direct train to the pilgrimage town of Tirupati has finally been fulfilled. Responding to a request from MP Kota Srinivas Poojary, the Ministry of Railways has approved the extension of the Kachiguda-Mangaluru train (12789/12790) to Murudeshwar, offering further connectivity to Hyderabad.

This extended service will now allow devotees from Udupi and Kundapura to travel directly to Tirupati via Renigunta station. The train, which currently operates twice a week between Kachiguda and Mangaluru, will now extend to Murudeshwar, stopping at Udupi and Kundapura.

Train Schedule

On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the train will depart from Murudeshwar at 3:20 PM, arriving in Kundapura at 4:40 PM, Mangaluru at 8 PM, Renigunta (Tirupati) at 11:45 AM the next day, and Kachiguda (Hyderabad) at 6 PM. The return journey will begin from Kachiguda at 6 AM, reaching Renigunta at 5 PM, Mangaluru at 9:30 AM the next day, Kundapura at 11:59 AM, and Murudeshwar at 2 PM.

This service will now provide direct rail connectivity from towns like Baindur, Kundapura, and Udupi to Hyderabad, covering key stations like Coimbatore, Tirupati, and Done Junction (near Mantralayam).

A Blessing for Devotees

There is a huge number of devotees from the coastal regions traveling to Tirupati. Until now, they could only travel as far as Mangaluru by train. This new extension benefits them immensely.

Connecting Pilgrimage Sites

With this new rail extension, devotees will have direct access to several prominent pilgrimage sites including Udupi Sri Krishna Matha, Kollur Sri Mookambika Temple, and Murudeshwar, along with Tirupati. The Coastal Railway has extended this service in record time, thanks to the efforts of MP Kota Srinivas Poojary.

“For years, we have been demanding a direct train between Tirupati and the coastal region. This long-standing demand has now been met, and we also have the added bonus of connectivity to Hyderabad. I thank Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for making this possible.” — Kota Srinivas Poojary, MP

“Our decades-long demand for a direct train between Tirupati and the coastal region has been fulfilled. We also requested a weekly service, but the twice-weekly Kachiguda extension is a welcome move.” — Ganesh Puthran, President, Kundapura Railu Pra. Hi. Samiti