Menu

Arsikere Junction railway station

Arsikere RS
Arsikere RS Image: Wikimedia Commons. Prof tpms / CC BY-SA 4.0

Arsikere Junction (station code: ASK) is a railway junction station located in the town of Arsikere in the Hassan district of the Indian state of Karnataka. It serves as an important junction on the South Western Railway zone of Indian Railways, connecting routes towards Bengaluru, Hubballi, Mysuru, Hassan and Birur.

Key facts
Station name Arsikere Junction
Station code ASK
Location Arsikere, Hassan district, Karnataka
Country India
Operator Indian Railways
Zone South Western Railway
Station type Junction

Overview

Arsikere is a long-established railway town that grew around the meeting of multiple lines in the southern Karnataka plateau. The junction lies in the southwestern part of the state and links the central Karnataka belt with the Malnad and coastal-bound corridors via Hassan. The station handles a mix of passenger, express and freight services.

Lines and connections

Arsikere is positioned at the convergence of several routes:

  • The line towards Bengaluru via Tumakuru.
  • The line towards Hubballi via Birur and Davangere.
  • The line towards Mysuru via Hassan and Shravanabelagola.
  • The link towards Hassan, which extends further to Mangaluru through the Western Ghats.

Background and history

The route through Arsikere developed during the era of the metre gauge network operated under the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway and later the Southern Railway. As part of Project Unigauge, the lines passing through the station were progressively converted to broad gauge, integrating Arsikere into the modern broad gauge trunk network. With the reorganisation of Indian Railways zones in 2003, the station was placed under the newly formed South Western Railway zone, headquartered at Hubballi.

Significance

As a junction, Arsikere functions as a crew-changing and locomotive-handling point for trains moving between the Bengaluru, Mysuru, Shivamogga and Hubballi directions. The town's economy and connectivity to surrounding taluks of Hassan district benefit from the station's role in regional rail traffic. The station also provides access for pilgrims and tourists travelling to nearby heritage sites in the Hoysala region.

References

  • Wikidata: Q24947920
  • Indian Railways, South Western Railway zone — official publications.