Vande Bharat Express: A new Vande Bharat Express is planned to operate between Yeshwantpur in Bengaluru and Madgaon in Goa. This train will take passengers along one of India’s most scenic rail routes. Travellers will enjoy stunning views of the Western Ghats and the coastal region of Karnataka.
The train will traverse Subrahmanya Road from Sakleshpur, providing spectacular sights of verdant mountains, deep mist-covered valleys, and impressive waterfalls. It will also pass through popular tourist spots such as Udupi and Gokarna. Along the 670-kilometre journey between Bengaluru and Goa, the train will halt at 12 key stations.
Yesvantpur-Madgaon Vande Bharat train timetable
Yesvantpur to Madgaon Vande Bharat (Train No. 26655)
Departure: 7:35 am (from Yeshwantpur)
Arrival: 8:55 pm (Margaon, Goa)
Duration: approximately 13 hours and 20 minutes
Operating days: Six days a week, excluding Wednesday
Madgaon to Yesvantpur (Train No. 26656)
Departure: 8:20 am (from Madgaon)
Arrival: 9:15 pm (from Yeshwantpur)
Duration: approximately 12 hours and 55 minutes
Operating days: Six days a week, excluding Thursday
Twelve major stations en route
1. Shravanabelagola (pilgrimage site)
2. Hassan
3. Sakleshpur (picturesque hill station)
4. Subrahmanya Road (Kukke Subrahmanya Temple)
5. Kabaka Puttur
6. Mangaluru Junction (coastal Karnataka)
7. Udupi (renowned for temples and beaches)
8. Kundapura
9. Mookambika Road Byndoor
10. Murudeshwara (home to the world’s second largest Shiva statue)
11. Gokarna Road (known for Mahabaleshwar Temple)
12. Karwar (a tranquil and scenic beach town)
The slowest Vande Bharat Express in the country
Due to the mountainous terrain and challenging railway tracks, this train will travel at a speed of 53 to 54 km per hour. The speed restrictions are necessary because of the winding valleys and hills, making it one of the slowest Vande Bharat trains nationwide. This reduced speed will enable passengers to fully appreciate the breathtaking beauty of the ghats and valleys.
Boosting tourism
The Yeshwantpur-Madgaon Vande Bharat will be advantageous for tourists visiting Gokarna, Udupi, Murudeshwar, and Karwar. The train’s coaches have been manufactured by Bengaluru’s BEML, utilising technology from the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. The Railway Board is expected to announce the train’s operational date shortly. Recently, the railways introduced the Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Sleeper and Mumbai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Sleeper services.