Gomteshwara Express

Gomteshwara Express is an Express train belonging to South Western Railway zone of Indian Railways that run between Yesvantpur Junction and Mangalore Junction in India. The name of the train is derived from the Gommateshwara statue which is a 57-foot (17 m) high monolithic statue located on Vindyagiri at Shravanbelagola in the Indian state of Karnataka. This train is also called "Kudla Express ''

Background
This train was inaugurated on 9 April 2017, From Mangaluru Junction flagged off by Suresh Prabhu (Former Minister of Railways) for Direct Connectivity between Mangalore and Bangalore via Shravanbelagola and the ghat section of Karnataka.

Service
The frequency of this train is tri-weekly and it covers the distance of 357 km with an average speed of 39 km/h.

Routes
This train passes through Chikkabanavara, Kunigal, Shravanabelagola, Hassan Junction, Sakleshpur, Kabaka Puttur and Bantwala on both sides.

Traction
As the entire route is fully not electrified, it is hauled by Diesel & Electric Loco Shed, Krishnarajapuram based WDP-4D on its entire journey.