Bengaluru,Feb 19: In a major boost to rail connectivity between Karnataka and Goa, the Railway Ministry has proposed a new Vande Bharat Express service between Yesvantpur in Bengaluru and Madgaon in Goa, covering a distance of 684 km in 13 hours and 10 minutes.
The proposal comes close on the heels of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announcing the introduction of a coastal Vande Bharat service.
Route and Timings
As per the tentative schedule, the train will run via Padil in the Mangaluru railway region, skipping Mangaluru Junction and Mangaluru Central stations to maintain the proposed 13-hour travel time.
“The service will skip Mangaluru Junction and Mangaluru Central stations and run via Padil, with a running time of about 13 hours,” officials noted.
The train will pass through Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Padil, Thokur and Udupi before reaching Madgaon.
Tentative Schedule:
Yesvantpur–Madgaon:
Departure at 6:05 a.m., arrival at Padil at 2:00 p.m., and Madgaon at 7:15 p.m.
Madgaon–Yesvantpur:
Departure at 5:30 a.m., arrival at Padil at 11:00 a.m., and Yesvantpur at 6:40 p.m.
The total journey time in each direction is estimated at 13 hours and 10 minutes.
Speed and Operational Plans
The Railway Ministry noted that the average speed of the proposed service would be less than 50 kmph, though the top speed is expected to reach 130 kmph.
“The average speed of the service is less than 50 kmph,” the proposal stated.
According to the South Western Railway (SWR), speeds could improve after infrastructure upgrades, including raising the speed limit between Chikka Banawara and Hassan from 110 kmph to 130 kmph and increasing the permissible speed on the Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road Ghat section from 30 kmph to 40 kmph.
“Speed could be increased after enhancing the speed limit between Chikka Banawara and Hassan and on the Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road Ghat section,” SWR stated.
Trial Runs and Requirements
Two Vande Bharat rakes will be required for the service, one originating from each end. Before finalising the schedule, trial runs must be conducted using rakes equipped with an Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system.
Additionally, the Overhead Electrical Equipment (OHE) system on the Hassan–Thokur section must be certified and energised prior to conducting the trials.
Officials also cited operational constraints such as speed restrictions on the Sakleshpur Ghat section and train crossings on single-line stretches. Routing the train via Mangaluru Junction would further increase the total running time, they added.
The proposed service is expected to significantly benefit commuters and tourists travelling between Bengaluru and Goa, offering a faster and more comfortable rail option once operational clearances are completed.
