Pune-Hubli Vande Bharat Express from September 15
Pune: Railway passengers from western Maharashtra have one more option of a luxury train now. The Railway Ministry has approved a Vande Bharat Express train that connects western Maharashtra with north Karnataka.
Train no. 20669 Hubli to Pune and 20670 Pune to Hubli will start its maiden run from September 15 and will travel via Miraj, Sangli and Satara. A notification was issued by the Ministry in this regard.
A demand was repeatedly made with the railway administration to arrange a Vande Bharat Express with halts at Sangli and Miraj. BJP Maharashtra Rail Wing President Kailas Varma demanded with the Railway Ministry to launch a Vande Bhara Express after the electrification of the railway route in western Maharashtra. DyCM Devndra Fadnavis also demanded halts of express trains at the Sangli railway station. Considering these demands, the Ministry approved the two Vande Bharat trains on the Pune-Hubli route and also approved a halt at Sangli.
Train schedule
The Hubli-Pune Vande Bharat will start from Hubli at 5.15 am and reach Dharwad at 6.55 am, Miraj at 9.15 am, Sangli at 9.30 am, Satara at 10.35 am and arrive in Pune at 1.30 am.
It will depart from Pune at 2.15 pm and reach Satara at 4.08 pm, Sangli at 6.10 pm, Miraj at 6.45 pm, Belgaum at 8.35 pm, Dharwad at 10.20 pm and arrive in Hubli at 10.45 pm.
Special features of Vande Bharat
*AC train with eight compartments
*Daily run, except Monday
*Speed 66 kmph
*Distance 558 km
Time and distance
Pune to Sangli – 3.55 hr
Sangli to Belgaum – 2.22 hr
Sangli to Hubli – 4.33 hr
Belgaum to Hubli – 2.10 hr
Pune to Hubli – 8.30 hr
Follow-up for Kolhapur
Sangli Railway Development Group’s Umesh Shah said, “Kolhapur-Mumbai Vande Bharat has been approved. However, it cannot run due to technical issues, besides electrification. We will try to start the train soon.”
