6 days ago
SWR operates special trains as indefinite RTC strike begins in Karnataka
The South Western Railway (SWR), Bengaluru division, announced the operation of special trains on select routes to ease public inconvenience following the indefinite strike by employees of four State-run transport corporations of Karnataka starting August 5.
Additional special train services have been arranged between
1) Tumakuru(TK)- KSR Bengaluru (SBC)
2) KSR Bengaluru - Mysuru (MYS)
3) Bengaluru Cantonment (BNC) - Bangarapet (BWT)
4) KSR Bengaluru - Satya Sai Prashanti Nilayam (SSPN)
on 05.08.2025: # — DRM Bengaluru (@drmsbc) August 4, 2025
Senior SWR officials told The Hindu that additional train services have been arranged between key destinations on August 5 to help commuters affected by the absence of regular bus services. The special train services announced by the SWR on August 5 include routes between Tumakuru (TK) and KSR Bengaluru (SBC), KSR Bengaluru and Mysuru (MYS), Bengaluru Cantonment (BNC) and Bangarapet (BWT), and KSR Bengaluru and Satya Sai Prashanti Nilayam (SSPN).
'These special trains have been arranged to support daily commuters in light of the RTC strike. Efforts were being made to minimise disruption to public transport,' an SWR official said.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC), representing employees of KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC, went ahead with the strike despite the Karnataka High Court's direction to defer it for at least a day. The unions cited the failure of talks with the State Government over demands, such as a pay hike and settlement of arrears. A final round of negotiations with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on August 4 failed to yield any breakthrough.
Meanwhile, the Transport Department has brought in private bus operators to maintain bus services in Karnataka. The Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Associations has agreed to operate additional buses. School and industrial buses are also being deployed in some districts to fill service gaps.
