Rail passengers have welcomed the launch of the Amrit Bharat Express that runs weekly between Nagercoil and Mangaluru Junction. However, they are unhappy that the train takes 17.2 hours to cover about 700 km. This means the train runs at an average speed of only 40 km/h. Many want the Railway Ministry to speed up the service and extend it to Kanniyakumari in the south and Subrahmanya Road or Vasco-da-Gama in the north. This would benefit more passengers. P. Edward Jeni, Secretary of Kanniyakumari District Railway Users’ Association, said the train's schedule is not good for overnight travel. The train leaves Nagercoil at 11:40 a.m. on Tuesdays and reaches Mangaluru at 5 a.m. on Wednesdays, with a long wait between Kasargod and Mangaluru. It takes about 3 hours from Kasargod to Mangaluru, while usually express trains take only 35-40 minutes. The train has 21 stops and is slower than the Parasuram Express, which has 54 stops on the same route. Jeni added, "Indian Railways appears to have a clear disconnect between passenger needs and planning." He proposed the train start from Kanniyakumari around 10 a.m. and reach Vasco by 12:30 p.m. the next day. On return, it could leave Vasco at 2 p.m. and reach Kanniyakumari by noon the next day. B. Shreekara from Puttur Rail Yatri Sangha said, "The longer journey time of the Nagercoil-Mangaluru Junction Amrit Bharat Express service dilutes the premium facilities the train offers." He criticized the Mangaluru-Nagercoil train schedule, which runs sleeper coaches mostly during daytime hours from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Shreekara suggested extending the Amrit Bharat Express to Subrahmanya Road to connect the pilgrim town Kukke Subrahmanya with Thiruvananthapuram, Nagercoil, and Kanniyakumari. He asked for a tighter timetable to make the service convenient and efficient for both Railways and passengers.