Mangaluru: An extended Vande Bharat Express service connecting Bengaluru, coastal Karnataka and Goa is expected to be introduced in the third week of November, around Deepavali, bringing improved rail connectivity to the region.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw conveyed the proposed inauguration schedule to Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary during a meeting at Rail Bhavan in New Delhi.

The train will operate between Yeshwantpur in Bengaluru and Madgaon in Goa, passing through Hassan, Udupi and Uttara Kannada. The extension is expected to fulfil a long-standing demand from people in coastal Karnataka and provide a faster rail connection between Bengaluru, the coastal region and Goa.

Trial runs completed on ghat section

According to Kota Srinivas Poojary, trial runs of the extended service have been completed. The signalling and braking systems have also been tested along the challenging ghat stretches between Sakleshpur and Subrahmanya Road.

The testing of these systems is an important part of preparing the route for regular operations, particularly through the Western Ghats section.

The extended service will use the existing Vande Bharat Express currently operating between Mangaluru Central and Madgaon. Under the proposed arrangement, the train’s service will be extended to Yeshwantpur in Bengaluru.

Train numbers to be changed

With the extension, the existing train numbers 20646 and 20645 will be replaced by 26655 and 26656, respectively.

The new route is expected to benefit passengers travelling between Bengaluru and important destinations in coastal Karnataka, including Udupi, while also improving access to Goa.

The service is particularly significant for coastal Karnataka, where passengers have long sought better direct rail connectivity with Bengaluru and neighbouring states.

Railway Minister expected to visit coastal Karnataka

Ashwini Vaishnaw is also expected to visit coastal Karnataka in connection with the launch of the extended Vande Bharat service.

The Railway Minister shared the proposed schedule during the meeting with Union Minister of State for Railways V Somanna and MP Kota Srinivas Poojary.

State leaders also congratulated Vaishnaw on the railway projects implemented in Karnataka.

Mumbai-Bengaluru Sleeper Vande Bharat launch

Meanwhile, the Mumbai-Bengaluru Sleeper Vande Bharat Express is scheduled to be inaugurated on November 1, with regular commercial operations expected to begin on November 2.

The proposed Bengaluru–Madgaon extension and the Mumbai–Bengaluru sleeper service form part of the railway connectivity developments highlighted during the meeting.

For coastal Karnataka, the extension of the existing Mangaluru–Madgaon Vande Bharat service to Yeshwantpur is expected to be a significant development, offering passengers a direct connection across Bengaluru, the coast and Goa.