Bengaluru: Travel between Bengaluru and Goa is set to become more convenient with the proposed extension of the Mangaluru Central-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express to Yesvantpur in Bengaluru. The extended service will provide direct connectivity between Bengaluru, coastal Karnataka and Goa, covering 14 stations along the route.
The service will operate as the Yesvantpur-Madgaon-Yesvantpur Vande Bharat Express and will pass through important destinations including Hassan, Sakleshpur, Udupi, Kundapura, Byndoor, Murdeshwar, Gokarna Road and Karwar.
Vande Bharat to connect Bengaluru with Goa
The Railway Ministry has confirmed plans to extend the existing Mangaluru Central-Madgaon Vande Bharat service to Yesvantpur in Bengaluru via Mangaluru Junction.
The extension addresses a long-standing demand for a direct premium train connecting Bengaluru with Mangaluru and Goa. The existing Mangaluru Central-Madgaon service has been operating since December 2023 and currently runs six days a week.
Under the proposed arrangement, the train will begin its journey from Yesvantpur and travel through the Western Ghats and coastal Karnataka before reaching Madgaon in Goa.
The extended route is expected to improve rail connectivity for both tourists and residents travelling between Bengaluru and the coastal districts.
14 stations included in the proposed route
The proposed Yesvantpur-Madgaon Vande Bharat will cover 14 stations:
- Yesvantpur
- Shravanabelagola
- Hassan
- Sakleshpur
- Subrahmanya Road
- Kabaka Puttur
- Mangaluru Junction
- Udupi
- Kundapura
- Byndoor
- Murdeshwar
- Gokarna Road
- Karwar
- Madgaon
The route will therefore provide direct Vande Bharat connectivity to several major tourism and commercial centres across Karnataka’s coastal belt.
For passengers travelling from Bengaluru, the service could provide a single-train journey to destinations such as Mangaluru, Udupi, Kundapura, Murdeshwar, Gokarna, Karwar and Madgaon.
Journey expected to take around 13 hours
The full Bengaluru-Madgaon journey is expected to take around 13 hours under the proposed timetable.
According to the latest reported schedule, the Yesvantpur-Madgaon service could depart Yesvantpur at around 6.05 am and reach Madgaon at 7.15 pm.
The return service could leave Madgaon at approximately 5.30 am and reach Yesvantpur at around 6.40 pm.
However, these timings are based on the proposed schedule and should not be treated as the final timetable until the Railways officially notifies the service.
The relatively long journey time is partly linked to the challenging railway sections through the Western Ghats and coastal Karnataka.
Trial run completed between Bengaluru and Mangaluru
Preparations for the extension have already progressed beyond the planning stage.
A 16-car Vande Bharat rake conducted a trial run between Yesvantpur and Mangaluru Junction on September 10. The train covered the route in about 7 hours and 5 minutes in the down direction and 6 hours and 49 minutes on the return journey.
The trial was intended to assess the operational feasibility of running the Vande Bharat on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru section.
Further operational preparations will be required before the extended service begins commercial operations.
Coastal Karnataka gets direct premium rail link
The extension is particularly significant for coastal Karnataka because passengers from Bengaluru will be able to reach several coastal destinations without changing trains.
Mangaluru, Udupi, Kundapura, Byndoor, Murdeshwar, Gokarna and Karwar are among the important locations covered by the proposed route.
For Goa-bound passengers, Madgaon will provide the direct connection to the state’s railway network and tourism destinations.
The service could also benefit residents of coastal Karnataka travelling to Bengaluru for business, education, healthcare and other purposes.
Tourism could receive a boost
The proposed service is expected to benefit tourism along the route because it links Bengaluru, one of India’s major metropolitan and technology centres, with several established coastal destinations.
Udupi and Mangaluru are important religious and cultural destinations, while Murdeshwar, Gokarna and Karwar attract tourists for their beaches, temples and coastal landscapes.
Madgaon serves as an important rail gateway to Goa.
A direct Vande Bharat service could make rail travel more attractive for tourists who otherwise rely on flights, buses or conventional trains for journeys between Bengaluru and the coast.
The route also passes through destinations such as Sakleshpur, which is known for its Western Ghats landscape and tourism activities.
Passengers seek shorter travel time
Although the proposed service is expected to provide faster and more comfortable connectivity, passengers and industry representatives have raised concerns about the approximately 13-hour journey time.
Some passenger groups have urged the Railways to reduce the journey to around 11 hours where operationally possible.
There have also been requests for a more convenient schedule for passengers travelling from Mangaluru to Bengaluru for work.
The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry has suggested that an early-morning departure from Mangaluru and a night return could allow business travellers to complete their work in Bengaluru without losing an entire working day.
Such scheduling would, however, have to be balanced with track availability and the requirements of other passenger and freight services.
Route has challenging railway sections
The Bengaluru-Goa route passes through sections where railway speeds are affected by terrain and operating conditions.
The Hassan-Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road section includes challenging Western Ghats terrain, while the coastal railway line also has operational constraints.
Earlier proposals had considered increasing permissible speeds on sections of the route to reduce the overall journey time. The February proposal, for example, suggested raising the speed between Chikkabanavara and Hassan from 110 kmph to 130 kmph and improving speeds on the Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road ghat section.
Improving travel time will therefore depend not only on the Vande Bharat train itself but also on track conditions, signalling, gradients and the availability of suitable operating paths.
Existing Mangaluru-Goa service to get longer route
The proposal effectively extends an existing Vande Bharat service rather than creating an entirely new route.
The Mangaluru Central-Madgaon Vande Bharat has already been serving the coastal Karnataka-Goa corridor. Extending it southwards to Yesvantpur will add Bengaluru to the same service.
The extended service will operate under new train numbers 26655 and 26656, according to the latest reports.
This arrangement allows passengers from Bengaluru to travel directly to Goa while also strengthening connectivity between the state capital and coastal Karnataka.
More options for Bengaluru travellers
The new service could offer Bengaluru passengers another alternative for reaching Goa.
Air travel remains considerably faster for passengers focused solely on reducing journey time, while buses and conventional trains offer different combinations of fares and travel timings.
The Vande Bharat is positioned as a premium rail option, combining faster intercity travel with modern coaches and onboard amenities.
For passengers travelling to intermediate destinations such as Mangaluru, Udupi and Karwar, the direct connection could be particularly useful because it eliminates the need for a train change.
Conclusion
The proposed extension of the Mangaluru Central-Madgaon Vande Bharat to Yesvantpur will create a direct rail connection between Bengaluru, coastal Karnataka and Goa. The 14-station route will cover key destinations including Hassan, Sakleshpur, Mangaluru, Udupi, Kundapura, Murdeshwar, Gokarna, Karwar and Madgaon. The journey is expected to take around 13 hours, although passengers are seeking shorter travel times and more convenient schedules. With trial operations already conducted between Yesvantpur and Mangaluru, the extension marks a significant step towards stronger rail connectivity between Bengaluru and the Karnataka coast.