First electric engine chugs into Mysuru

Mysuru: Following electrification of the Mysuru-Bengaluru double railway track, history was created on Saturday when the electric loco (engine) chugged into Mysuru Railway Station from Bengaluru as part of the test run. Sources in the Railways said that the Safety Commissioner is expected to undertake inspection of the electrification of the Mysuru-Bengaluru railway track on Tuesday and added that all diesel engines would be replaced with electric engines on all Mysuru bound trains once the Safety Commissioner issues the Safety Clearance certificate. According to officials, all the trains between Mysuru and Bengaluru operated using diesel engines, used to cause a lot of air pollution. The officials added that once electric engines begin operating, the pollution level will drastically come down. It may be recalled that Mysuru got its first train in 1870 which was powered by a coal engine. At present, there are 24 trains being operated from City Railway Station every week. Sources said that many long route trains plying towards Mysuru are stopped in Bengaluru for a change over from electric to diesel engine which used to take time. But once operation of electric engines begins, there would be no stoppage for changing engines which would also save travel time.