Bangalore Central MP PC Mohan was among the passengers who boarded the train along with other railway officials.
Amid much fanfare and optimism, the first train operated by the Bangalore Southwest Railway Division arrived at the Kempegowda International Airport stop station on Monday morning from the city. As scheduled, the train left Bangalore City Railway Station (Majestic) at 4.45am and arrived at the stopping station at 5.50am.
Bangalore Central Member of Parliament (MP) PC Mohan was one of the high-profile passengers who boarded the train. Senior railway officials were also on board the train. From the stop station, a shuttle bus operated by the airport authority took passengers to the airport.
As previously reported, this rail connectivity is the first and fastest non-road alternative to reach the airport. It is also the cheapest as travelers have to pay just Rs 10 for an airport ticket from Majestic. Two other trains also arrived at the stopping station after they left Yelahanka and Yeshwantpur stations at 7 am and 8:30 am respectively.
Later on Monday, a train is scheduled to leave Bangalore Cantonment Station at 5.55pm and the Majestic at 9pm again. Similarly, the airport trains will depart at 6.43 pm and 10.37 pm to Majestic, and at 6.22 am, 7.45 am and 8.21 am from Yelahanka, Bangalore Cantonment and Yeshwantpur stations respectively.
Over the next few months, five of these trains will leave the city for the airport. Apart from travelers who want to get to the airport in a cheaper and faster mode of transport, the train connection will mainly benefit hundreds of airport employees.
While the demand from activist citizens for such a train has been around for a long time, there was no positive step towards it for almost a decade. This stop has been financed by Bangalore International Airport Limited, the company that manages the airport.
By the end of 2023, another train line to the airport is also expected to be ready as part of the recently approved dedicated suburban rail project. That line is expected to run faster and more frequently. The Union government has yet to approve a project for a metro railway line connecting the city and the airport.
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