Amarkantak Express: Holy for Railfans as holy as Amarkantak is for devotees. - Ayan G

Part II : Pune-Miraj Journey!
1029 Mumbai-Kolhapur Koyana Exp departed from Ghorpuri (GPR) at around 13:48 hrs, now late by 28 minutes! Train was not
picking up very good speed, probably due to caution orders as well as few slums enroute and 2-3 manned level crossings!
Train picked up good speed after Sasvad Road (SSV), as habitation was very less and only fields (with...
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crops of Bajari/Jwari) were
seen on either side of the tracks. We were held up at Phursungi (FSG) and I rushed to the door to see the crossing! Pune-Miraj
being single line, if a train is held at unscheduled halt, it must be probably for a crossing!
At FSG, 1610 Miraj-Pune passenger was seen hauled by green PUNE WDM2 # 17938. As soon as 1610 MRJ-PUNE passenger arrived FSG, my train 1029 was given starter signal. Now, Pune-Miraj section has color light aspects electrical signals (and not the old semaphore one and no more token exchanges here)!
Again, my train was held up at Alandi (ALN) station, just for 1 minute! ALN is not scheduled halt for Koyana Exp. However, few staff members got down at ALN and soon train started onward journey [Note: This Alandi village is called 'Chorachi Alandi', i.e Thief's Alandi by local folks. And there is other Alandi around 22 Kms from Pune by road, which is famous for Vitthal-Rakhumai Mandir and famous for Saint Dnyaneshwar. That Alandi, not on IR network, is called as 'Alandi Devachi', i.e. God's Alandi]!
We reached Shindavane (SHIV) and train speed got reduced (due to up gradient)! Nice journey now started! Lots of hills around!
Train passed through lots of rock cuttings and/or via ducts! Train reached Ambale (ABLE) soon and was held up for 10 minutes!
At ABLE, pairing train 1030 Kolhapur-Mumbai Koyana Exp was seen moving towards Pune behind blue GY WDM3A # 14031 balide loco (buldge face to Miraj)! I thought, as 1030 has passed, my train will be given starter! However, that was not the case!
After 7 minutes or so, 2781 Mysore-Nizamuddin SwarnaJayanti Exp arrived at ABLE behind twin GTL WDMx locos! The leading loco (towards Pune) was skyblue/yellow GTL WDM2A # 17278 and trailing loco was orange GTL WDM2A # 17944! This 17944 was in orange KZJ livery and GTL diamond logo was repainted and GTL words replacing KZJ words on loco side walls! 2781 MYS-NZM Swarna Jayanti halted at Ambale and my train started onward journey!
At lots of places on Shindwane-Ambale-Jejuri Section, I could clearly see old MG alignment, rock cutting between which old
MG tracks were running (and new rock cutting nearby where BG line was running)! Small bridges or water outlets/hole on MG
line are still intact and in place!
At Jejuri (JJR), my train stopped for scheduled commercial halt. Here, orange PUNE WDG3A # 14679 was ready with a goods train to proceed towards Pune. My train started journey towards Satara and goods train also simultaneously started moving towards Pune!
At Daundaj (DNJ), twin Shakti locos hauled goods train was waiting to proceed towards Pune. Leading loco was turquoise Shakti WDG3A and trailing loco was orange Shakti WDG3A. I could not see any details of locos due to high speed of my train. Similarly, at Valha (WLH), twin KJM WDG3A locos hauled goods train was waiting to proceed towards Pune. Again, due to high speed, I could not note the loco numbers of KJM twins!
At Nira (NIRA), where my train had stopped for regular halt, 6532 Yashvantpur-Ajmer Garib Navaz Exp speeded towards Pune
behind twin diesel locos. I could not see any details, except the fact that those were twin locos!
Again at Wathar (WTR), scheduled halt for Koyana Exp, I saw 1050 Kolhapur-Ahmedabad Exp speeding towards Pune with blue
PUNE WDM3A # 18951R! So, between Pune and Wathar, a distance of just 119 Kms, there were 8 crossings, viz., 1610, 1030,
2781, Goods, Goods, Goods, 6532, 1050! This shows how busy this section is, especially on Saturday, when we have weekly 2781, 6532 and 1050 trains! Also, lots of goods traffic on this single BG line!
Journey from WTR to KRD (Karad) was without any action, except the fact that train stopped for official halts at Satara (STR),
Koregaon (KRG), Rahimatpur (RMP), Targaon (TAZ), Masur (MSR) and Shirravde (SIW)! Local folks have long pending demand
that 1029/1030 Koyana Exp should be converted to a fast passenger, so that travellers will save more money!
We reached Karad (KRD) at 18:30 hrs, now late by 30 minutes! Here, 1039 Kolhapur-Gondia Maharashtra Exp arrived with
skyblue/yellow GTL WDM2A # 16752! 1039 KOP-G Maharashtra Exp was also late by 20-25 minutes! As 1039 arrived, my train
left KRD at 18:36 hrs, now late by 36 minutes!
Interesting observation was made at Karad! Karad station still has semaphore signals. I think, work of electric signal
installation is complete only on Pune-Karad section. Further section still seems to be with old signalling system.
Now, it was getting darker and outside view was not clear anymore! At Kirloskarwadi (KOV), one passenger train with complex rake sharing arrangement (RSA) boards (like Miraj-Pune-Kolhapur-Satara) was waiting to proceed towards Satara direction, headed by brown PUNE WDM2 loco. At Bhilavadi (BVQ), a single loco (probably WDS6 shunter or derated WDM2S shunter) was idling on the outer yard (with head lights on).
Finally, my train arrived at Miraj Jn (MRJ) at around 20:20 hrs, late by 30 minutes! My next train 1047 Miraj-Hubli Exp was scheduled to depart from Miraj at 00:20 hrs (next day!) and so, I had around 4 hrs 'free' time at Miraj. I decided to go out of station for dinner and return back ASAP to see some action at MRJ!
Observations at Miraj to follow soon as Part 3!

Part III : Observations at Miraj Junction (MRJ) and the illusive Miraj-UBL Express!
After having dinner in a restaurant near Miraj ST Stand (State Transport Bus Stand, around 500 meters from MRJ railway station), I returned back to station at around 21:15 hrs.
Miraj (MRJ) station has 6 platforms and big yard at the Pune end of the station. The tracks are curved while coming into
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station (from Pune side). So, a train coming from Pune side is fully visible (as a curved train) from long distance, as the train approaches MRJ from PUNE side.
On PF6 of MRJ, I saw rake of Miraj-Pune Passenger (again with complex board names) and dead blue PUNE WDM3A # 18773R waiting little ahead of this rake. While entering station, I saw PF1 with lots of crowd waiting for some train.
Green PUNE WDM2 # 17983 removed the rake of passenger train marked as "Miraj <--> Hubli <--> Dharwad" from PF2 and took it towards outer yard on Pune end of MRJ station. Soon, at around 21:23 hrs, late running 1018 Yashvantpur-Dadar Chalukya Exp arrived on PF1 with orange Shakti WDG3A loco. Due to darkness and rake of MRJ-UBL-DWR passenger, I could not see loco shed or loco road number. Soon, 1018 YPR-DR Chalukya Exp left towards Pune and on PF4, 1012 Kolhapur-Mumbai Mahalakshmi Exp arrived behind brown PUNE WDM2 # 17628!
Boards on 1012 KOP-CSTM Mahalaxmi Exp confirmed rake sharing arrangement (RSA) between Mahalakshmi Exp and Siddheshwar Exp! Board were "Solapur <--> Mumbai <--> Kolhapur" as well as "Siddheshwar Express / Mahalakshmi Express"! Mahalakshmi Exp was 18 coach long. Soon, announcement was made that 2780 Goa Exp is expected on PF3!
2780 Nizamuddin-Vasco Goa Exp arrived on PF3 at MRJ behind orange PUNE WDG3A # 14886. As Goa Exp and cleared the single line, 1012 Mahalakshmi Exp proceeded towards Pune.
In the mean time, 1629 Sangli-Miraj Passenger arrived on PF2 behind skyblue/yellow GTL WDM3A # 18972R! This passenger train is run for operational reasons, as there is no rake stabling facilities at Sangli (SLI). This 1629 SLI-MRJ passenger had hardly 20-30 travellers in the entire train!
Now, I enquired about 1047 Miraj-Hubli Exp to 2-3 vendors and a tea stall owner. Most of them did not know that the
train I was speaking is 1047 MRJ-UBL Express! They confirmed that night 00:20 departing Hubli Passenger will leave from PF4. I was not sure about 1047 Express now! I had confirmed ticket of 1047 is sleeper coach "S1"!
I waited at PF4 and soon, a rake marked with complex rake sharing arrangement (RSA) as
"Miraj <--> Hubli <--> Bellary <--> Hubli
Hubli <--> Dharwad <--> Hubli <--> Miraj
Miraj <--> Londa <--> CastleRock <--> Miraj" was parked/stabled on PF4. All the coaches were locked! There is 1 SL coach, however, it did not have any indication that it is S1 coach, nor there was any reservation chart pasted on the same!
Soon, 1 staff member opened most of the locks of the coaches, and before I could catch him (to confirm that this is 1047 MRJ-UBL Exp), he vanished! A group of 3-4 family members entered into SL coach. I entered the SL coach and asked them if this is 1047 MRJ-UBL Exp! Again, they were 'blank'! After some discussions, 1 person in the group confirmed that this is S1 coach of Hubli train which departs midnight at 00:20 hrs! Ahh! So, finally, I seemed to have got right coach in right train!
I kept my luggage on my seat at around 11:15 hrs after the above discussion and went at other door of the coach where another family was getting into the coach. I rechecked with them and they also confirmed this to be S1 coach for Hubli! Nowhere on the boards of the entire train, I could see numbers 1047/1048! Few beggars and some travelers with unreserved tickets were now roaming S1 coach, some of them even occupying the seats! Again, I started thinking that this must not be 1047 Hubli Express!
Soon, at around 11:30 hrs, 1 staff member came and started the lights/fans in the SL coach (from central switch)! And
he also called 1 RPF guy, who came and abused/scolded those beggers and forced them out of SL coach (by little beating them using his stick)! And soon, 1 TTE (travelling ticket examiner) arrived! He checked my and other's tickets, put some wavy/curly pen marks on the ticket (scribbled the ticket) and made tick marks in his reservation chart. Later, he was busy issuing few empty seats to those having unreserved tickets and ready to pay fare difference.
So, this is the plight of 1047/1048 MRJ-UBL-MRJ Express! This train has only 1 sleeper coach and the same rake later runs as 312 Hubli-Bellary passenger from Hubli in the morning (departure 08:00 hrs)! And nowhere on the rake, there is mention of 1048/1047 or Express words!
Even the announcement system at MRJ never announced this 1047 Express train! All the time they kept announcing
trains like Mahalakshmi, Goa Exp, Sahyadri Exp, etc, however, not a single word/line about 1047 UBL Exp!
In the mean time, blue PUNE WDM3A # 18773R got attached to my train, the 'illusive' 1047 Miraj-Hubli Exp! Also, 1024 Kolhapur-Mumbai Sahyadri Exp arrived on PF1 with skyblue/yellow GTL WDM2A # 16390.
My train departed at around 00:23 hrs (late by 2-3 minutes) and I went into deep sleep!
Part 4 to follow soon with next day observations at Hubli!

Part IV : Dharwad-Hubli Run and Morning Observations at Hubli!
I woke up at 06:25 hrs exact due to a small jerk! And my train 1047 Miraj-Hubli Exp had arrived and just halted at Dharwad
(DWR) station! The train was 'bang' on time!
At DWR, one one of the siding lines, twin KJM WDG3A hauled goods train was waiting to proceed towards Miraj direction!...
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The locos were orange KJM WDG3A # 13368 Shakti and standard blue liveried KJM WDG3A # 13267 Shakti!
Soon, 6201 Mysore-Dharwad Express arrived behind blue KJM WDG3A # 14660. The train was late by 30 minutes!
The train seemed to have low patronage. Also, the rake was of short length only. The train had 1 AC2T coach also.
As Dharwad-Hubli is single line track, once the 6201 MYS-DWR Exp came into Dharwad, my train 1047 got starter signal and finaly leg of DWR-UBL journey which is 20 Kms long, started. 1047 has lot of slack. They have provided 50 minutes time for last 20 kms run!
The train picked up good speed and soon came to a screaching halt at Navalur (NVU)! At NVU, 6589 Bangalore-Kolhapur
Rani Chennamma Exp speeded towards Dharwad/Miraj, headed by KJM WDP4 # 20006 loco. This WDP4 was in short hood forward (SHF) mode towards Dharwad/Miraj direction. Also, lot of work of expansion of Navlur yard was seen going on full speed. Rake of 0689/0690 Hubli-Bangalore-Hubli Winter Special Intercity Express was also seen lying idle at NVU yard.
The train started journey again and slowed down at station named Amargol (AGL). Here, a goods train with sand/soil/stone,
etc was standing, without any loco. Lots of trucks were getting filled with soil that was being removed as part of earth work
being done at AGL. Earth work is probably for track doubling.
Near Unkal (UNK), a long goods train was waiting to proceed towards Hubli (UBL), headed by twin WDG4 locos! This is my
first sighting of twin WDG4 locos (which seem to 'rule' this sector - please see next part of the report)! Both WDG4 locos
were coupled such that while moving in any direction, the leading loco will be SHF, which is 'ideal' for the loco pilot! The locos
for the goods train were UBL WDG4 # 12112 and UBL WDG4 # 12135! 12135 WDG4 was leading the train and ready to take it towards UBL!
Finally, my 1047 MRJ-Hubli Exp reached UBL at 07:05 hrs (15 minutes before time)! On the adjuscent platform, I saw 5-6 coaches with board of 2780 Goa Exp headed by orange PUNE WDG3A # 14886! The same loco and same train was seen by me on earlier night at MRJ.
The Hubli Link coaches (called as 7305/7306 Link Exp) that arepart of 2779/2780 Goa Exp were detached at Londa (LD) Junction and the link express came to UBL with same Pune loco. And 2780 Goa Exp must have gone from Londa to Madgaon with GY WDG3A loco!
A goods train was ready in UBL station to move towards Dharwad, headed by single UBL WDG4 # 12029 loco.
Also, 6506 Bangalore-Gandhidham Exp arrived at Hubli behind single orange KZJ WDG3A # 14898 loco!
Soon, I left Hubli Station as I had to finish my work and quickly return back to catch 1620 Hubli-Miraj Passenger.
To my 'disappointment', TC (ticket checker/collector) at the exit gate of UBL station took away my SL ticket for 1047!
Local/Public transport bus service in Hubli seemed to be good! Plenty of buses with good frequency were seen running all over. Hubli city looked dirty, unclean, unplanned (similar to many other cities in India). However, UBL Junction Station Area
seemed quite good, with good cleanliness and planned areas for entry/exit, auto stand, etc! Local buses in Hubli (KSRTC skblue buses) have automatic electronic ticket vending machines (hand held devices with bus conductors). Similar device
is implemented at Pune also (PMT or now PMPML buses), however, the same is in discussions (hot topic) due to 'fraud' etc!
Very interesting last part, part 5 with afternoon observations at Hubli (UBL) Junction to follow soon!

Part V : Afternoon Observations at Hubli Junction!
I completed my work at Hubli (UBL) and after having lunch, I returned to UBL station at around 11:15 hrs. I purchased
IInd class unreserved General Ticket for Hubli-Belgaum journey (to be done by 1620 Hubli-Miraj Passenger). The ticket cost of UBL-BGM 142 Kms journey was Rs. 24 only! Railways beat road journey costs by a large margin!
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reached PF4 of UBL station, where the empty rake of my train 1620 UBL-MRJ Passenger was already parked/stabled.
The rake of 1620 Miraj passenger was headed by blue/white GTL WDM3D # 11117! So, I was lucky that my passenger
was going to get WDM3D loco from Guntakal! The scheduled departure time of 1620 passenger from Hubli was 12:45 hrs.
So, I had almost 1 hr 30 min time at UBL station.
Soon, on adjuscent through line between PF4 (with my train on PF4), a goods train headed by twin WDG4 locos moved towards Dharwad direction. Lead loco (towards DWR) was UBL WDG4 # 12122 and trailing loco was UBL WDG4 # 12125.
Next to this goods/through line, there is carriage and coach repair workshop at Hubli, established in 1898 (or 1858 - can not remember exact year now, however, it was sure 18xx year)! Inside this workshop, blue KJM WDM2 # 17117 was taking rest (dead loco shut down)!
Just 100 feet behind last GEN coach of my 1620 passenger, another rake headed by twin GY WDMx locos was stabled! The
leading loco (towards DWR end) was GY WDM3A # 14038 and trailing loco was GY WDM3A # 14013!
Soon, a goods train headed by twin KJM WDG3A locos came into UBL station, halted for 10 minutes and then proceeded towards Dharwad/Belgaum side! The leading loco was blue KJM WDG3A # 14615 and trailing loco was orange KJM WDG3A # 13331 Shakti!
A light running KJM WDM3A # 18904 loco was seen roaming into Hubli station. This was probaly being put into use for
shunting work for the time being!
Another goods train, again headed by twin WDG4 came into UBL, halted for 5-10 minutes and proceeded towards DWR/BGM/MRJ side! This goods train had UBL WDG4 # 12130 and UBL WDG4 # 12070 locos and it had around 60 BCN/BNA/BCNAHS type goods wagons.
For all the goods train, I observed that, once the train gets starter, loco pilots push the train backwards by 20-25 meters
or so, and once they get 'ok' kind of message from guard, the goods train start moving forward! [Note: This feature or
procedure was discussed on IRFCA sometime back and can be seen in archive messages]!
Now 1 more goods train with twin WDG4 locos and same action! This was like repetition of previous goods train. The goods
train was lead by UBL WDG4 # 12131 + UBL WDG4 # 12133! Most of these goods train brought either iron ore, or some
mineral ore or washed coal or unwashed coal!
At around 12:40 hrs, 2848 Vasco-Howrah Amravati Express arrived on PF3 with twin Gooty WDMx locos! The train
arrived 30 minutes before time! The leading loco was GY WDM3A # 14022 and trailing loco (towards Londa side) was GY WDM3A # 14043!
In the mean time, another goods train headed by twin WDG4 arrived on waited on side line (next to my passenger train).
This goods was led by UBL WDG4 # 12082 + UBL WDG4 # 12085 and was held up at UBL in order to allow my train to proceed first towards Dharwad!
Finally, at 12:47 hrs, just with 2 min delay, my train 1620 UBL-MRJ Passenger started journey towards Miraj!
More interesting part 6 (final part!) with details of Hubli-Belgaum Journey is coming soon!

Part VI : Hubli-Belgaum Journey and Brief Details of Belgaum-Pune Bus Journey! (Final Part!)
My train 1620 Hubli-Miraj Passenger left UBL at 12:47 hrs and arrived at Unkal (UNK) by 12:53 hrs. Here, the train
was held up. And on main line track, I saw 1017 Dadar-Yashvantpur Chalukya Exp speeding towards UBL with orange KYN WDG3A # 13366 Shakti and dead brand new WDP4 # 20054 (just behind Kalyan diesel loco)! So, I guess, with Chalukya Exp, latest WDP4 20054 is being sent to KJM!
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passed without much action (except 10-20 travelers getting in/out of the train). 1620 was having less crowd!
Seats/benches were empty and choice of window seats was also available to travellers for first few stations!
At Navlur (NVU), same rake seen in the morning with boards of 689/690 or 0689/0690 Bangalore-Hubli-Bangalore Intercity
Express was stabled. KJM WDG3A 13331 and KJM WDG3A 14615 were seen returning light towards UBL! [Please see Part V
where they had hauled goods train from UBL towards NVU side. So, they seem to have put goods train on siding or outer
yard and were returning back to Hubli]!
At Dharwad, emtpy rake of 6201/6202 Mysore-Dharwad-Mysore Exp headed by KJM WDG3A # 14660 was taking rest! Also, goods train led by UBL WDG4 12130/12070 twin unit was held up and my train was allowed to proceed further.
At Kyarkop (KRKP), I saw KM marker read as "495" Kms! No idea from where this KRKP is 495 Kms away! At KRKP, a goods train headed by twin WDG4 was ready to proceed towards UBL. The leading loco (towards UBL) was AEB fitted blue/white UBL WDG4 # 12069 and trailing loco was yellow/white UBL WDG4 # 12003 (original GM loco)!
At Mugad (MGD), pairing train 1619 Miraj-Hubli Passenger was seen headed by blue PUNE WDM2 # 17344 loco! So, my train was lucky to get GTL WDM3D and paiting train was served by good old PUNE WDM2 loco!
At Kilometer Marker 508.300, Naglavi (NGV) station came. The station board appeared discarded/damaged and there was no
IR/SWR staff seen anywhere. This station seemed more like an unscheduled halt!
Next station was Kamabarganavi (KBI) and as usual, washed coal loaded goods train headed by AEB fitted UBL WDG4 # 12023 and normal yellow/white UBL WDG4 # 12011 (another original GM loco) waiting to proceed towards UBL!
Next station Kashanatti (KHST)! And some action was here also! Here, I saw light running GY WDG3A # 14906 heading towards UBL!
Next station was Alnawar (LWR) Junction! By the time train reached LWR station, it was late by 25 min approx (due to tons of crossings and/or overtakes and/or heavy goods traffic on this section)! At KM marker 526.600, around 300 meters ahead of Alnawar Jn (while moving towards Belgaum), I saw single non-electrified BG line bifurcating towards Ambevadi (AVA) on the left hand side!
Next station was Bhistanahatti (BIE). Again, station for the name sake! No action (even in terms of travelers) here! Next station was Tavargatti (TVG), here lots of passengers got down!
Next halt was Nagargali (NAG). Here, 6507 Jodhpur-Bangalore Exp speeded towards UBL behind twin KZJ WDG3A locos! The leading loco towards UBL was orange KZJ WDG3A # 14897 and trailing loco was orange KZJ WDG3A # 14925!
Next station was Devrai (DEV) or Devarayi! Here, the usual twin WDG4 feature back into action! UBL WDG4 # 12117 + UBL WDG4 # 12099 headed goods train with iron ore waiting to go towards UBL!
Not much action at Shivthan (SVTN). And then came the famous Londa (LD) Junction! Just after LD junction, while moving
towards Belgaum, line towards Madgaon (MAO) Goa bifurcates on the left hand side!
Next Gunji (GNJ) and Khanapur (KNP) passed. At Khanapur, lots of travellers got down. Next halt station was Idalhond (IDJ).
Here, many village folks got down and started walking towards their village (around 1 Kms from station and seemed to have
no mode of transport other than this railway halt station)!
Desur (DUR) soon arrived. Here, 7416 Kolhapur-Bangalore Hari Priya Exp speeded towards UBL headed by skyblue/yellow
GTL WDM3A # 18885R. This is the same loco which hauled my yesterday's 1029 Mumbai-Kolhapur Koyana Exp!
And biggest surprise was in store at Desur! Here, oil tanker rake (petrol fuel) was ready to head towards Belgaum, headed
by brand new blue/white PUNE WDM3D # 11224! I have never seen this latest PUNE WDM3D in/around Pune and this loco is doing work on UBL-BGM Section!
Finally, I reached Belgaum (BGM) at 16:45 hrs, late by 25 minutes! Belgaum station platforms are low height platforms and one has to step down 2 steps of railway coach to get down on the platform!
Entire UBL-Belgaum section passes through a deep forest with lots of high rising trees (and Bamboo trees at many places) on both sides of the tracks. At one location, I could see monkeys roaming around railway tracks! The entire single line strech has large number of C or S type curves and straight line tracks are hardly for distance of 200-300 meters at a stretch!
Most of the stations have 3 lines, with goods train held up on 1 line, passenger train taking 3rd PF line and any through fast
train going via main 2nd line!
Later, I came to CBT (Central Bus Terminus or City Bus Terminus) in Belgaum (around 3-4 Kms from BGM railway station). Here, the old red or blue or green KSRTC buses are now nowhere seen! Entire bus stand was filled with new looking orange/yellow NWKRTC (North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation) buses! I boarded Shirsi-Mumbai Bus (Shirsi-Hubli-Belgaum-Kolhapur-Pune-Mumbai route) and purchsed electronic printed ticket for Belgaum-Pune journey of 337 Kms for Rs. 207!
Around 5-6 years ago, Belgaum-Pune bus journey used to take 9 hrs. Now, entire Belgaum-Pune-Mumbai route is 4 lane road with up/down lanes completely separated by dividers, etc. My bus started from Belgaon at 21:30 hrs and reached Pune (Swargate Bus stand) sharp at 04:30 hrs next day morning. Journey took exact 7 hrs and too, with 40 min for driver's dinner and again with bus going off the main express highway to Sankeshwar, Nipani and Kolhapur Bus Stands to drop/pick up passengers! With good quality 4 lane roads, Volvos nowadays easily to Belgaum-Pune run in just 6 hrs (with 30 minutes single halt enroute). And they do Belgaum-Mumbai journey in just 9 hrs!
With fully developed road network in Maharashtra/Karnataka, it will be very difficult for railways to beat road services, even if they start Pune-Belgaum Intercity kind of trains. Only way they can probably compete with road is to start fast PUNE-BGM day train intercity with 2S seats which will cost approx. Rs. 120 and will do the journey in 8-9 hrs. Cost can only be the criteria.
Hubli/Belgaum cities seemed to be renamed as Hubballi/Belgavi and I saw Huballi/Belgavi boards at many public places and some boards line Belgav or Belgaon!
Entire Pune-Miraj-Belgaum-Hubli stretch has lots of trains, especially goods trains! And this stretch really needs doubling work to be done on priority!
Finally, I reached Pune station (as my house is 7-8 min walking distance from Pune railway station). While crossing over
FOB at Pune, I saw 1327 Mumbai-Bijapur Fast Passenger and KYN WCG2 loco that came with passenger was backing out.
Also, twin GTL WDMx loco 17770+17743 were seen moving back towards Ghorpadi side.
Entire trip was dominated by twin diesel locos, and MU'ed WDG4 locos was the most common thing in this part of SWR!