Bengaluru
oi-Madhuri Adnal
Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat is moving closer to launch, with the Railways indicating that the service could begin before the monsoon. With electrification now completed on the key Hassan-Mangaluru (Namma Kudla) railway line and initial testing already carried out, officials expect trial runs to begin before June.
Trial runs for the Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat are expected before June following electrification completion; the service aims to boost coastal connectivity, though a 30 kmph speed limit on the Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya ghat section poses a challenge.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the service is being planned to strengthen connectivity across the coastal belt and improve links between Karnataka and Goa. While the timeline appears firming up, operational constraints on a critical stretch of the route remain a concern.
The 55-km ghat section between Sakleshpur and Subrahmanya continues to impose strict speed limits due to steep gradients and safety requirements. Trains are expected to run at a maximum of 30 kmph in this stretch, and officials indicate that even a marginal increase may not be feasible. This could impact the overall time advantage typically associated with Vande Bharat services, even if higher speeds are achieved on other sections.
There is also some uncertainty around station stops. An initial internal note, prepared based on directions to Southern Railway, South Western Railway and Konkan Railway, suggested that the train would operate between Yesvantpur and Madgaon without a halt at Mangaluru. However, this has not been finalised, and a stop at Mangaluru is widely expected following assurances from MPs representing Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.
Long-standing Demand, Now Closer to Reality
The Bengaluru-Mangaluru route has long been flagged by commuters due to heavy passenger traffic and the lack of faster rail options. Travel time on this corridor remains stretched, largely due to constraints in the ghat section, making a semi-high-speed option like Vande Bharat a long-pending demand.
The latest momentum comes after a social media post by Mohandas Pai, who has consistently raised the issue of poor rail connectivity between Bengaluru and coastal Karnataka.
While an official launch date and timetable are yet to be announced, the project appears to have entered the final stages, with electrification completed and trial runs expected shortly. Operational details are likely to be firmed up once the remaining clearances are in place.
Once operational, the service is expected to improve travel comfort and connectivity between Bengaluru and the coastal region, while also strengthening tourism and economic links with Goa. At the same time, the Railways is planning to roll out additional services from Bengaluru, including a superfast train to Mumbai via Hubballi-Dharwad and a Vande Bharat sleeper service between Bengaluru and Mumbai, both likely to be introduced in the coming months.
