Udupi: The Vande Bharat Express operating between Mangaluru and Madgaon has been extended to Bengaluru, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has informed Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary.
The extension follows repeated requests from MP Kota Srinivas Poojary, who had urged the Union government to introduce a Vande Bharat service connecting Bengaluru with the coastal region.
According to a letter from the Railway Minister, the existing Madgaon-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express will now operate up to Bengaluru via Udupi, Kundapur and Karwar.
Train to operate with new number
Following the extension, the service will operate under the numbers 26655/26656 and will be known as the Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express.
The Railway Minister stated that the service will operate according to a revised timetable. The revised schedule will determine the arrival and departure timings at the intermediate stations as well as the timings at Yeshwantpur, Mangaluru and Madgaon.
The extension is expected to provide a direct Vande Bharat connection between Bengaluru and the coastal belt, while also retaining the existing connectivity towards Goa.
MP had made repeated requests
Kota Srinivas Poojary had written to Ashwini Vaishnaw on November 12, 2025, June 6, 2026, and August 10, 2026, seeking the introduction of a new Vande Bharat Express between Bengaluru and the Mangaluru-Madgaon region.
The MP had specifically sought improved high-speed rail connectivity between Bengaluru and the coastal districts. His requests included a service that would connect Bengaluru with Mangaluru and Madgaon, benefiting passengers travelling between the state capital, coastal Karnataka and Goa.
The latest communication from the Railway Minister confirms that the demand has been addressed through an extension of the existing service rather than by introducing a separate train.
Udupi, Kundapur and Karwar on route
The extended service will pass through important coastal stations, including Udupi, Kundapur and Karwar, before reaching Madgaon.
For passengers in Udupi and Kundapur, the extension provides an additional direct rail connection to Bengaluru at one end and Madgaon at the other. The route also links the coastal region with the state capital and northern coastal Karnataka.
The inclusion of Karwar in the extended route will further connect Uttara Kannada with Bengaluru and Mangaluru through the semi-high-speed service.
Revised timetable awaited
While the Railway Minister’s letter confirms the extension and the new train numbers, the detailed revised timetable is yet to be highlighted in the information released by the MP.
The timings will be significant for passengers planning journeys between Bengaluru and the coastal region, particularly those travelling for work, education, business and other purposes.
The extension of the existing Vande Bharat service is also expected to improve travel options between Bengaluru and the coastal belt without passengers having to rely on separate rail services for different portions of the journey.
The decision marks an expansion of the Vande Bharat network serving coastal Karnataka and connects the region more directly with Bengaluru. Further details regarding the revised timetable and operational schedule are expected from the Railway authorities.