<p>Bengaluru: The cancellation of a dedicated overnight train between Bengaluru and Hubballi has riled passengers. </p>.<p>The South Western Railway (SWR) cited "poor occupancy" for the cancellation of train numbers 07340/07339 KSR Bengaluru-SSS Hubballi-KSR Bengaluru Superfast Express. </p>.<p>The train was cancelled from KSR Bengaluru beginning November 20 and from SSS Hubballi beginning November 21. </p>.<p>Passengers dispute the "poor occupancy" claim, saying the train was running at near capacity. They want the railways to make the occupancy details public and resume the train forthwith. </p>.<p>The service was launched in March 2023 as a "train on demand" with special fares to link the state's two major cities. While many overnight trains connected Bengaluru and Hubballi, none of them was exclusive to this route. </p>.<p>The special train changed that, and passengers were relieved. </p>.<p>On November 17, the SWR announced that it was revising the train's composition. It did so by decreasing the number of sleeper-class coaches from 11 to 8. </p>.<p>But just two days later, it announced that the train "will remain cancelled until further advice due to poor occupancy". </p>.<p>Aneesh Hegde, the SWR's Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), said that in the post-Deepavali period, the train had a 60% occupancy on weekdays, but higher occupancy on weekends and holidays. </p>.<p>The train's occupancy since March wasn't immediately available. </p>.<p>"These are not regular trains, but special ones that are run as 'Trains on Demand' by using the spare rake/coaches based on demand towards different destinations to meet the peak demand during a particular period only," he said in a statement to <span class="italic"><em>DH</em></span>. </p>.<p>KN Krishna Prasad of the Karnataka Railway Vedike said the Bengaluru-Hubballi needed a dedicated overnight train and asked the SWR to reconsider its decision. </p>.<p>"The rake is now being used to run a special train between Bengaluru and Bikaner, ostensibly to clear the extra rush of passengers. The railways must reintroduce the Bengaluru-Hubballi train," he said. </p>.<p>Hegde said: "We keep observing the demand towards various destinations on a regular basis. Special trains are run to different destinations based on higher demands, higher waitlists and for the convenience of the passengers." </p>
<p>Bengaluru: The cancellation of a dedicated overnight train between Bengaluru and Hubballi has riled passengers. </p>.<p>The South Western Railway (SWR) cited "poor occupancy" for the cancellation of train numbers 07340/07339 KSR Bengaluru-SSS Hubballi-KSR Bengaluru Superfast Express. </p>.<p>The train was cancelled from KSR Bengaluru beginning November 20 and from SSS Hubballi beginning November 21. </p>.<p>Passengers dispute the "poor occupancy" claim, saying the train was running at near capacity. They want the railways to make the occupancy details public and resume the train forthwith. </p>.<p>The service was launched in March 2023 as a "train on demand" with special fares to link the state's two major cities. While many overnight trains connected Bengaluru and Hubballi, none of them was exclusive to this route. </p>.<p>The special train changed that, and passengers were relieved. </p>.<p>On November 17, the SWR announced that it was revising the train's composition. It did so by decreasing the number of sleeper-class coaches from 11 to 8. </p>.<p>But just two days later, it announced that the train "will remain cancelled until further advice due to poor occupancy". </p>.<p>Aneesh Hegde, the SWR's Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), said that in the post-Deepavali period, the train had a 60% occupancy on weekdays, but higher occupancy on weekends and holidays. </p>.<p>The train's occupancy since March wasn't immediately available. </p>.<p>"These are not regular trains, but special ones that are run as 'Trains on Demand' by using the spare rake/coaches based on demand towards different destinations to meet the peak demand during a particular period only," he said in a statement to <span class="italic"><em>DH</em></span>. </p>.<p>KN Krishna Prasad of the Karnataka Railway Vedike said the Bengaluru-Hubballi needed a dedicated overnight train and asked the SWR to reconsider its decision. </p>.<p>"The rake is now being used to run a special train between Bengaluru and Bikaner, ostensibly to clear the extra rush of passengers. The railways must reintroduce the Bengaluru-Hubballi train," he said. </p>.<p>Hegde said: "We keep observing the demand towards various destinations on a regular basis. Special trains are run to different destinations based on higher demands, higher waitlists and for the convenience of the passengers." </p>