News Brief

Indian Railways. (Wikimedia Commons).
Nearly three decades after the introduction of the Udyan Express, Indian Railways has sanctioned a second direct Superfast train service linking Bengaluru and Mumbai, Indian Express reported.
The move fulfills a long-pending demand from passengers across Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi took to X (formerly Twitter) to express gratitude to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for approving the new direct Bengaluru–Mumbai Superfast train service connecting the two state capitals.
"I had requested the Union Railway Minister for this train, which has been our long-standing demand. This Super Fast train will run via the central Karnataka route of Tumakuru, Davanagere, Haveri, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Belagavi to the commercial city of Mumbai, benefiting lakhs of people through this rail connectivity and further boosting trade and commerce,” Joshi said.
The new Bengaluru–Mumbai Superfast train will run through the central Karnataka corridor, covering key cities such as Tumakuru, Davanagere, Haveri, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Belagavi before reaching Mumbai.
Currently, the Udyan Express operates via the Bengaluru–Guntakal–Solapur route. It covers 1,153 km in 23 hours and 35 minutes, halting at 31 stations along the way.
The new Superfast train via central Karnataka is expected to significantly enhance connectivity for Bengaluru–Mumbai travelers.