Mangaluru: A trial run of a 16-coach Vande Bharat Express between Yeshwantpur and Mangaluru Central will be conducted on September 5 as per the directives of the Railway Board, with railway authorities primarily focusing on assessing and finalising the proposed timetable.
The trial assumes a journey time of 8 hours and 20 minutes between the two cities. Railway officials have been instructed to ensure that the train completes the scheduled run within the stipulated time while monitoring its performance along the route.
Train to depart Yeshwantpur at 6.05 am
According to the proposed schedule, the Vande Bharat Express will depart from Yeshwantpur at 6.05 am on September 5.
The train will travel through Hassan, Subrahmanya and Padil before reaching Mangaluru Central at 2.25 pm. This gives the train a scheduled travel time of 8 hours and 20 minutes for the journey from Yeshwantpur to Mangaluru.
After a brief halt at Mangaluru Central, the train is scheduled to commence its return journey at 3 pm.
It will then travel towards Yeshwantpur and is expected to reach the station at 11 pm. The proposed timings are being assessed during the trial run and could form the basis for the final timetable once the railway authorities complete their evaluation.
Focus shifts from technical feasibility to timing
The upcoming trial run follows an earlier technical assessment conducted on August 12.
During that exercise, the Vande Bharat Express was operated through the challenging ghat section between Sakleshpur and Subrahmanya Road. The earlier trial was primarily intended to assess the technical feasibility of operating the train through the difficult terrain.
The Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road section is an important part of the route because of its gradients and curves. Assessing the train’s performance through this section was therefore a significant part of the earlier exercise.
The September 5 trial will have a different focus. While technical feasibility was the principal concern during the August 12 run, railway authorities will now concentrate primarily on travel time and adherence to the proposed schedule.
Officials asked to complete run within 8 hours 20 minutes
The scheduled travel time for the Yeshwantpur–Mangaluru journey has been fixed at 8 hours and 20 minutes for the trial.
The Railway Chief Controller has issued instructions to the concerned officials to closely monitor the run and ensure that it is completed within the specified time.
The timing exercise will help railway authorities determine whether the proposed schedule is practically achievable under the operating conditions along the route.
Factors such as the terrain, gradients, speed restrictions and operational requirements along the route can influence the overall journey time. The trial is therefore expected to provide railway officials with operational data that can be considered while finalising the timetable.
Proposed return journey at 3 pm
The proposed schedule provides for a relatively quick turnaround at Mangaluru Central.
After arriving at 2.25 pm, the train is scheduled to depart for Yeshwantpur at 3 pm. The return journey is expected to take eight hours, with the train reaching Yeshwantpur at 11 pm.
The trial will allow officials to assess the feasibility of maintaining both the onward and return schedules.
The timing of the return service will also be important for passengers if the service is eventually introduced as a regular operation. A timetable that provides convenient departure and arrival times could improve the usefulness of the service for travellers between the coastal city and Bengaluru.
Earlier ghat section trial provided technical inputs
The August 12 trial through the Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road ghat section represented an important preliminary step in evaluating the proposed service.
Operating a Vande Bharat train through this section requires careful assessment of the route’s operating characteristics. The earlier exercise focused on whether the train could technically negotiate the challenging section as part of the proposed Yeshwantpur–Mangaluru route.
With that assessment undertaken, the September 5 run is expected to concentrate on the broader operational aspect, particularly the time required to cover the complete route.
The two trial runs therefore serve different purposes: the earlier exercise focused largely on technical feasibility, while the latest run will help authorities assess the proposed timetable.
Trial run could pave way for final timetable
The September 5 exercise is expected to provide the railway authorities with a clearer picture of the time required for the proposed Vande Bharat service between Yeshwantpur and Mangaluru Central.
If the train completes the run according to the proposed timings, the results could help the Railway Board finalise an operational schedule. Any changes required after the trial can also be incorporated before a regular service is introduced.
For passengers in Mangaluru and surrounding areas, the proposed service has generated interest because of the possibility of a faster and more convenient rail connection with Bengaluru.
The immediate focus, however, remains on the trial itself. Railway officials have been instructed to ensure strict adherence to the stipulated 8-hour-20-minute travel time, making the September 5 run an important step in determining the final timetable for the proposed Vande Bharat Express.