First direct train from Marathwada to Konkan, Nanded-Sawantwadi special flagged off

A big and historic development has come for rail passengers in Marathwada and those travelling to Konkan. South Central Railway has decided to run a special train directly from Nanded to Sawantwadi in Konkan. This is the first time a train is being run directly from Marathwada to Konkan.

The special train will run via Parbhani, Parli, Latur Road and Pune. The direct rail service will benefit Konkan residents living in Marathwada as well as tourists wishing to see the scenic Konkan valleys.

Special state transport buses are arranged every year for migrant workers from Konkan travelling home for the Gauri-Ganpati festival. But the Marathwada Railway Prawasi Mahasangh has been continuously demanding a special train between Nanded and Sawantwadi for the convenience of residents and students living in Marathwada. The organisation met senior officials of the Secunderabad, Pune, Mumbai and Konkan divisions to press this demand.

Supporting this demand, the Marathwada Railway Prawasi Mahasangh, the Konkan Railway Vikas Samiti, as well as MP Supriya Sule, Dharashiv MP Omprakash Nimbalkar, Latur MP Shivajirao Kalge and Nanded MP Dr Ajit Gopchade wrote jointly to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and officials of the Central and South Central Railways with this demand. Taking into account the growing number of passengers and the lobbying by public representatives, South Central Railway has decided to run the "Nanded-Sawantwadi Road-Nanded" special train (train number 07659/07660). The train will have two round trips in both directions.

Train number 07659 (Nanded to Sawantwadi) will depart from Nanded on September 12 and 14 (Saturday and Tuesday) at 8:00 pm and reach Sawantwadi Road station at 3:30 am the next day. On the return journey, train number 07660 (Sawantwadi to Nanded) will depart from Sawantwadi Road on September 14 and 17 (Monday and Thursday) at 7:30 am and reach Nanded at 11:30 am the next day.

The special train will have a total of 24 coaches, including 2nd AC, 3rd AC, Sleeper Class, general second class and SLR coaches.

The special train will connect several major cities and tourist destinations in Marathwada, central Maharashtra and Konkan. In both directions, it will halt at Purna Junction, Parbhani Junction, Parli Vaijnath, Latur Road, Latur, Yedshi, Barshi Town, Kurduwadi, Daund, Pune, Lonavala, Kalyan, Panvel, Pen, Roha, Mangaon, Khed, Chiplun, Sangameshwar, Ratnagiri, Rajapur Road, Vaibhavwadi Road, Kankavli and Kudal stations. With this facility, passengers from Marathwada will now have a direct and comfortable journey to Ratnagiri, Chiplun, Kankavli, Kudal and Sawantwadi.