Bengaluru: Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru offers a cost-effective train commute, with fares as low as Rs 10 to Rs 30. However, the service remains underutilised, with only about 30 passengers using the KIA Halt station daily, according to South Western Railway (SWR) data.
The KIA Halt station, situated 3.5 km from the airport, was established by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) and opened in 2021. Despite its affordability, many residents remain unaware of the service, and those who are aware often find that the train schedules do not align well with flight times, according to a report by News 18.
Most travellers prefer other modes of transport, such as personal vehicles, on-demand cabs, or BMTC’s Vayu Vajra buses. The cost of a cab ride from central Bengaluru to the airport is approximately Rs 900, and BIAL has recently increased pickup fees for ride-hailing services.
Currently, SWR operates six trains connecting KSR Bengaluru, Yeshwantpur, and Bengaluru Cantonment stations to the KIA Halt station. These trains, consisting of both DEMU (Diesel-Electric Multiple Unit) and MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) types, have between eight and twelve cars.
The low ridership has been attributed to various factors “I live in Vivek Nagar, and the nearest station, Bengaluru Cantonment, is 30 minutes away, sustainability expert Dhawall Mane told News 18 .
“They run up to Chikkaballapur and Kolar, and after Yelahanka, there’s only a single track, causing delays,” Rail activist K N Krishna Prasad was quoted as saying by News 18.
To improve ridership, Prasad suggests adding more boarding points in high-density areas such as Whitefield and Kengeri, increasing the frequency of trains from KSR Bengaluru station (which is connected to the metro), and ensuring daily service.
In response to the low usage, SWR has recently introduced four additional trains stopping at Bettahalsoor and Doddajala stations.
Train Travel Details
SWR’s train services from KSR Bengaluru (SBC), Yeshwantpur (YPR), and Bengaluru Cantonment (BNC) stations stop at the KIA Halt station. These trains also serve other stations including Bengaluru East, Baiyappanahalli, Channasandra, Yelahanka, Bettahalsoor, Doddajala, Malleswaram, Lottegollahalli, and Kodigehalli.
BIAL offers a free shuttle bus from the KIA Halt station to the airport terminals, which arrives five minutes before the train. Note that there are no train services on Sundays. Train fares range from Rs 10 to Rs 30.
The first train towards the airport departs from Bengaluru Cantonment at 5:10 am, while the last train leaves KSR Bengaluru station at 6:20 pm. For the return journey, the first train from KIA departs at 8:18 am, with the last train at 7:23 pm.