Vande Bharat Express: Indian Railways continues to extend its semi-high-speed rail services throughout the country, with Karnataka poised to gain another significant route. Railway officials have indicated that the new Vande Bharat Express linking Mangaluru and Bengaluru is scheduled to commence operations on 13 November.
Mangaluru-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express Update
On the same date, the 26655/26656 Bengaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express, which will also pass through Mangaluru, is expected to be introduced. Operated and maintained by the South Western Railway (SWR) zone, this semi-high-speed train is anticipated to cut journey times between Bengaluru and coastal Karnataka considerably, thereby boosting rail links across the area.
Details about the upcoming service were previously shared by the Railway Minister. At the launch of the Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat sleeper train on 1 November 2026, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav stated that Vande Bharat trains would begin running between Bengaluru and Mangaluru within a few weeks. He specified that the inauguration would take place once electrification of the line was finalised and all necessary trial runs had been successfully completed. Electrification along the Bengaluru-Mangaluru route was finished by December 2025, with a successful trial run of the electric locomotive conducted on 28 December 2025.
Initiated in December 2023, this electrification project included the construction of five switching stations, each linked to the overhead electrification system. To ensure safety, traction poles were spaced no more than 67.5 metres apart. Now that the Ghat section has been electrified, the Vande Bharat Express can operate efficiently even over this challenging stretch of track.
What Will be the Routes?
Stoppages for the Bengaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express will include 12 stations between Yesvantpur and Madgaon: Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabaka Puttur, Mangaluru Junction, Udupi, Kundapura, Mookambika Road Byndoor, Murdeshwar, Gokarna Road, and Karwar.
Passenger safety and comfort have been prioritised in this train. Currently, more than 160 Vande Bharat chair car trains, all domestically produced, are in service nationwide. The new Mangalore-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express will feature advanced safety systems and modern amenities. The train will be fitted with “Kavach,” an automatic train protection system, along with jerk-free semi-permanent couplers, automated doors, and wide, fully sealed gangways. Both the toilets and electrical cabinets are equipped with aerosol-based fire detection and suppression systems.
With a design and operational speed of 180/160 kmph, the train also provides a communication system allowing voice recording between the driver and guard, as well as emergency alarm push buttons and talk-back units for added safety during emergencies.