Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Aug 7: The much-awaited Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express is set to move closer to its launch, with the South Western Railway (SWR) planning a trial run of the 20-coach train through the challenging Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road Ghat section later this month.
The trial run will be conducted by the Mysuru railway division from August 18 to 22 after the train was recently handed over to the division.
SWR chief public relations officer Manjunath Kanamadi said the train is equipped with Automated Emergency Braking (AEB) systems, a first for Karnataka, to enhance safety while operating on steep gradients.
A final decision on the launch date of the Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat service will be taken based on the outcome of the trial run.
Railway authorities had delayed introducing the premium semi-high-speed train on the route due to technical challenges associated with the Western Ghats section.
The 55-km Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road Ghat stretch was electrified on December 28, 2025, enabling electric train operations between Bengaluru and Mangaluru. The section is considered one of the most technically challenging routes in the railway network, featuring a steep 1 in 50 gradient, 57 tunnels, 226 bridges and 108 sharp curves.
The route is also highly vulnerable to landslides, with a recent landslide in late July disrupting train services.
According to railway sources, the proposed service may be introduced by extending the existing Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express (20645/20646) up to Bengaluru.
Under the proposed schedule, the train could depart Bengaluru in the morning, reach Mangaluru in the afternoon and continue towards Madgaon by evening. The return service from Madgaon is expected to reach Mangaluru in the afternoon and Bengaluru by evening.
Two separate train sets are likely to be used for the operation.
Once introduced, the Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat is expected to complete the journey in around seven hours or less, reducing travel time by nearly an hour compared to the fastest existing train service.