Tholahunase railway station near Davangere
South Western Railway sources said 40 km of track on the direct route has been completed, including the Tumakuru-Thimmarajanahalli and Tholahunase-Hebbalu stretches. Stay updated with the latest Hubballi news.
Railway sources said Tholahunase was earlier used mainly for train crossings and had limited passenger amenities. Tholahunase resident KR Ramesh said the station was changing after many years. We should not be forced to go to Davangere station for every journey,” he said.
Seating, parking, food stalls and other facilities were inadequate. These are now being expanded under the junction plan, while the station frontage is also set for improvement. “If more trains stop here, students of Davangere University and nearby colleges, office-goers and residents of the growing layouts will benefit. Residents have renewed their demand for halts of more Bengaluru- and Hubballi-bound trains at Tholahunase. At present, only a few services stop there, though several trains pass through the station. Download the TOI App.
The 192-km Davangere-Chitradurga-Tumakuru line is being developed as a shorter alternative and is expected to cut the Davangere-Bengaluru distance by around 53 km. Haveri: Work is progressing on upgrading Tholahunase railway station near Davangere into a junction where the Arsikere-Bengaluru double line and the proposed Davangere-Chitradurga-Tumakuru direct line will converge. The makeover is set to transform the small station into a crucial node in the region’s rail network. Railway works linked to the new corridor have gathered pace at the station. Platform construction, track-laying, signalling and other technical works required for connectivity are expected to be completed by month-end. Once pending works are completed, the railway department plans to begin train operations on the completed stretch. At present, trains between Mumbai and Bengaluru reach Tumakuru via Birur and Arsikere. As the route passes through Chikkamagaluru and Hassan districts, passengers travelling between Davangere and Bengaluru cover a longer distance and pay more. Tholahunase station has already undergone a visible transformation. The station, which had only two platforms, is being expanded to five. Rail lines have branched out near the platform end, while work is under way to connect both routes and install signalling systems. Funds allocated for the direct rail corridor are being used for the upgrade. The work has affected services between Davangere and Arsikere, with several trains temporarily cancelled, some diverted and a few running behind schedule. Residents, however, say the inconvenience will be worthwhile if the station gets better facilities and regular train halts after the upgrade.