MANGALURU: In a move that could spell restoration of regular train traffic between this coastal city and state capital, Mysuru division authorities of South Western Railway on Monday operated a goods train on rain ravaged Sakaleshpur-Subrahmanya Road Ghat section of the division.SWR authorities did this after almost completing mammoth task of restoring the landslide affected track. Train traffic on this route has been cancelled since August 14 due to intermittent landslips.Even though SWR authorities were on track to complete the restoration work by end of last month, a fresh and massive landslip near Siribagilu railway station at Kms 86 further extended the work. The division authorities were confronted with the sight of an entire hillock measuring 25 metres in height and 150 metres long come down on the track event while the workers were clearing the track. Luckily, there was no loss of life due to this vagary of nature.The authorities deployed 10 earth excavating machines and over 60 men to clear the fresh debris with men and machinery working round-the-clock to restore the track. A senior divisional authority told TOI that at first a train that transported material and machinery for restoration work was moved on the entire section. Later, they operated a regular loaded goods train, which would be operated on the section henceforth routinely, the authority added.A final decision on allowing passenger trains on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru section rests with the zonal headquarters in Hubballi, who have to assess safety aspects and inputs gained from observing goods train movement. Incidentally, passenger trains that include overnight express train between Bengaluru-Karwar/Kannur and two tri-weekly trains between Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru Junction and Yeshwantpur-Karwar, have been cancelled since August 14.

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