Hello, Bengaluru. I took the new airport train from Cantonment Station yesterday evening at 5:55 pm. On-board I met Rahul, a 27 year old aircraft maintanence engineer who had a flight at 8:30 pm to Chennai. He was the only passenger on the train who was going to the airport.

He was nervous along the way because the train was slower than schedule and there was confusion overall about the new route. The train reached the airport halt station at 7:12 pm, 1 hour and 17 minutes after it left Cantonment Station. (22 minutes slower than schedule).

After a quick ride in the free shuttle bus service, Rahul was at the airport by 7:30, an hour before his flight. But here's the best part - he paid Rs 10 for the journey! A cab fare would cost Rs 700+ and close to his flight ticket price, the bus fare from his home was Rs 270.

He avoided the rush hour evening traffic and reached the airport in time for his flight. He says the 20 minute delay is an issue that needs to be fixed.

Mohan, another commuter who regularly travels the route to Chikkaballapura, says that the rail line between Yehalanka and Devanahalli is a single track, which means that trains can only go once every 30 minutes in either direction. He says doubling work needs to be taken up here