Bengaluru Airport Trains: Why Flyers Are Avoiding This Cheaper Commute Option Despite Low Fares

Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) offers the cheapest commute option, with train fares between Rs 10 to Rs 30. However, few passengers are using it. South Western Railway (SWR) reports that only around 30 people use the KIA Halt station daily.

Built by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) and opened in 2021, the KIA Halt station is 3.5 km from the airport and was intended to serve passengers and airport staff. However, many Bengalureans are unaware of this service, and those who know often find that train timings don't match their flight schedules.

Instead, most travelers prefer personal vehicles, cabs, or BMTC's Vayu Vajra buses, with cab fares from central Bengaluru to the airport costing around Rs 900, especially after BIAL increased pickup fees.

SWR currently runs six trains connecting KSR Bengaluru, Yeshwantpur, and Bengaluru Cantonment stations with KIA Halt. These trains, a mix of DEMU and MEMU, have eight to 12 coaches.

Why Aren't People Using the Airport Train?

Sustainability expert Dhawall Mane notes that the train might not appeal to most Bengalureans. "I live in Vivek Nagar, and the nearest station is 30 minutes away. It's inconvenient to load and unload luggage repeatedly," he explains, adding that he'd consider the train only if he had extra time and company.

Rail activist K N Krishna Prasad points out that these trains aren't specifically designed for airport commutes, as they run to Chikkaballapur and Kolar. "There's a single track after Yelahanka, leading to delays," he says. Prasad suggests boosting ridership by adding boarding points in high-density areas like Whitefield and Kengeri, starting more trains from KSR Bengaluru (connected to the metro), and ensuring daily service.

To increase passenger numbers, SWR recently added four more trains that stop at Bettahalsoor and Doddajala.

How to Travel to and From Bengaluru Airport by Train?

Six SWR trains from KSR Bengaluru (SBC), Yeshwantpur (YPR), and Bengaluru Cantonment (BNC) stop at KIA Halt, also serving Bengaluru East, Baiyappanahalli, Channasandra, Yelahanka, Bettahalsoor, Doddajala, Malleswaram, Lottegollahalli, and Kodigehalli.

A free BIAL shuttle bus connects the station to the airport terminals, arriving five minutes before the train. However, no trains operate on Sundays, and fares range from Rs 10 to Rs 30.

The first airport-bound train leaves Bengaluru Cantonment at 5:10 am, while the last departs KSR Bengaluru at 6:20 pm. For return trips, the first train from KIA Halt departs at 8:18 am, and the last one at 7:23 pm.