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MANGALORE: Mangalore MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has demanded a night train from Bangalore to Udupi.

Mr. Kateel told presspersons here on Saturday that Minister of State for Railways E. Ahmed had assured him that Mangalore would get an additional train. This would be in lieu of the existing night train from Bangalore extended to Kannur in Kerala.

Mr. Kateel had demanded that the new train should run up to Udupi. He said Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa was keen on running a train up to Udupi so that commuters travelling to Kollur would benefit.

Mr. Kateel did not favour splitting the existing night train at Mangalore, to run some coaches to Karwar and the rest to Kannur.

He said Udupi-Chikmagalur and Kanara MPs, had demanded a train up to Karwar. However, the Railways rejected the proposal saying the train, if introduced, would have to leave Karwar at an odd time — around 3 p.m. — to reach Bangalore early morning. When confronted with the Railways’ stand that more passenger trains could not be operated as the track in the Ghat section had its limitations, Mr. Kateel said the Railways was running many goods trains on the route. The Railways being a service provider should have concern for commuters, Mr. Kateel said. He said Mr. Ahmed had promised to run the day train from Yeshwanthpur to Mangalore every day.