Mangaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw are likely to flag off the extended Yesvantpur–Mangaluru–Madgaon Vande Bharat Express on November 13, connecting Bengaluru with coastal Karnataka and Goa through a direct semi-high-speed rail service.
According to railway sources, Modi is expected to flag off the service from Bengaluru, while Vaishnaw will inaugurate it simultaneously at Mangaluru Junction. The launch is expected to take place at around 2 pm, with the Railway Minister’s programme at Mangaluru Junction scheduled for approximately 2.30 pm.
The service will extend the existing Mangaluru–Madgaon Vande Bharat route to Yesvantpur in Bengaluru, providing direct rail connectivity between the state capital, coastal Karnataka and Goa.
Regular services to begin from November 15
The new service will operate as Train Nos. 26655 and 26656. Regular operations in both directions are scheduled to begin on November 15, following the inauguration.
The Yesvantpur–Madgaon service will depart Yesvantpur at 7.35 am and reach Madgaon at 8.55 pm. It will operate six days a week, except Wednesdays.
In the return direction, the Madgaon–Yesvantpur service will depart Madgaon at 8.20 am and arrive at Yesvantpur at 9.15 pm. This service will not operate on Thursdays.
The journey from Bengaluru to Goa will take approximately 13 hours and 20 minutes, while the return journey will take around 12 hours and 55 minutes.
Vande Bharat to have 12 intermediate stops
The train will have 12 scheduled stops between Yesvantpur and Madgaon, connecting important towns across southern Karnataka, the Malnad region and the coast.
The stops are:
- Shravanabelagola
- Hassan
- Sakleshpur
- Subrahmanya Road
- Kabaka Puttur
- Mangaluru Junction
- Udupi
- Kundapura
- Mookambika Road Byndoor
- Murdeshwar
- Gokarna Road
- Karwar
The route will connect passengers from Bengaluru with several important religious, educational and tourist destinations along the coast. It will also provide direct connectivity to towns in the Western Ghats and coastal Karnataka without requiring passengers to change trains.
Existing Mangaluru–Madgaon service to be extended
The new service will be introduced by extending the existing Mangaluru Central–Madgaon Vande Bharat Express to Yesvantpur.
The Railway Ministry had earlier announced the extension as part of efforts to improve connectivity between Bengaluru, coastal Karnataka and Goa. The extended service will operate with two 16-coach Vande Bharat rakes.
With the new arrangement, the existing standalone Mangaluru Central–Madgaon Vande Bharat service, Train Nos. 20645 and 20646, will be discontinued from November 15.
Long-standing demand of coastal passengers fulfilled
The introduction of the extended service is expected to benefit passengers travelling between Bengaluru and Mangaluru, as well as those heading towards Udupi, Kundapura, Murdeshwar, Gokarna, Karwar and Goa.
Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary said the connection had been a long-standing demand of people from the coastal region. He recalled that the proposal had faced delays because electrification work along the Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Ghat section was pending.
With electrification of the route completed, the Vande Bharat service has become possible.
The coastal region is an important centre for tourism, education, religious institutions, hospitality and strategic establishments. The new train is expected to strengthen its connectivity with Bengaluru and improve travel options for business travellers, tourists and pilgrims.
The November 13 flag-off is expected to mark an important development in railway connectivity for coastal Karnataka, while regular services are scheduled to commence two days later.