The existing Madgaon-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express is set to be extended to Yesvantpur in Bengaluru, strengthening direct rail connectivity between the state capital, coastal Karnataka and Goa.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has confirmed the extension in a communication to MPs from the coastal region. The service will operate under train numbers 26655 and 26656 as the Yesvantpur-Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express with revised timings.
The extension follows requests from representatives and passengers seeking a direct premium train connection between Bengaluru and the coastal region.
New Route and Train Numbers
The existing Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat, which currently operates as trains 20645/20646, will be extended towards Bengaluru. Under the revised operation, the service will connect Yesvantpur with Madgaon through Mangaluru and other important stations along the route.
The proposed route includes Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabaka Puttur, Mangaluru Junction, Udupi, Kundapura, Byndoor, Murdeshwar, Gokarna Road and Karwar before reaching Madgaon.
The Railway Ministry has confirmed the extension, but the final commercial timetable and commencement date have not yet been officially announced.
Proposed Timings and Travel Duration
Preliminary information indicates that the extended service could take around 13 hours between Yesvantpur and Madgaon.
The tentative schedule being reported is:
Train 26655: Yesvantpur departure at 6:05 am and Madgaon arrival at 7:15 pm.
Train 26656: Madgaon departure at 5:30 am and Yesvantpur arrival at 6:40 pm.
These timings are not yet the final railway timetable and may be changed before regular operations begin.
Passengers and railway users in coastal Karnataka have welcomed the extension while seeking a shorter overall journey. Some have requested that the schedule be planned to bring the Bengaluru-Mangaluru journey closer to 11 hours, particularly for passengers travelling for work, business and medical purposes.
Safety Trials on the Western Ghats Route
The Bengaluru-Mangaluru section includes the challenging Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road ghat stretch, where special safety arrangements are required. The maximum permitted speed on the ghat section is 30 kmph, and Vande Bharat rakes operating there require an Automatic Emergency Braking system.
South Western Railway has already conducted trials involving AEB-equipped Vande Bharat rakes on the ghat section. A 16-coach Vande Bharat trial was also conducted between Yesvantpur and Mangaluru Junction on September 10 to assess timings and operational requirements.
The trials and technical assessments are part of the preparations for regular Vande Bharat operations between Bengaluru and the coastal region.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes. The proposed timings, stoppages and operational arrangements are based on information available at the time of publication and may change before the service officially begins. Passengers should check the latest announcement from Indian Railways before planning their journey.