Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Nov 4: The proposed Vande Bharat Express connecting Bengaluru, Mangaluru and Goa is set to become India's longest-duration chair car service and the slowest among Vande Bharat trains in the country, with an average speed of around 53 to 54 kmph.
The new service, numbered 26655 and 26656, will operate between Yeshwantpur in Bengaluru and Madgaon in Goa via Mangaluru Junction. It will cover the route in 13 hours and 20 minutes in the Yeshwantpur-Madgaon direction, while the return journey will take 12 hours and 55 minutes. The service will be among the 82 pairs of Vande Bharat chair car trains operating across the country.
Train No. 26655 will depart from Yeshwantpur at 7.35 am and reach Madgaon at 8.55 pm. In the return direction, Train No. 26656 will leave Madgaon at 8.20 am and arrive at Yeshwantpur at 9.15 pm. The service will operate six days a week, except Wednesdays from Yeshwantpur and Thursdays from Madgaon.
The train will halt at Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabaka Puttur, Mangaluru Junction, Udupi, Kundapura, Mookambika Road Byndoor, Murdeshwar, Gokarna Road and Karwar.
Despite being a premium semi-high-speed service, the train's average speed is expected to remain at around 54 kmph towards Madgaon and 53 kmph on the return journey. This would make it slower than several other Vande Bharat services operating across the country.
The geographical and operational conditions along the route are among the major reasons for the longer travel time. Almost the entire stretch, apart from short sections between Yeshwantpur and Chikkabanavara and between Mangaluru Junction and Thokur, runs on a single-line network. Trains have to accommodate crossing requirements, resulting in additional waiting time.
The 50-km ghat section between Sakleshpur and Subrahmanya Road is another major constraint, with trains permitted to operate at a maximum speed of 30 kmph through the stretch.
Meanwhile, railway passengers have expressed concern over the proposed journey duration and have called for a reduction in travel time. The Vande Bharat takes around two hours and 23 minutes to cover the 86-km stretch between Subrahmanya Road and Mangaluru Junction, despite having only one intermediate stop. A passenger train covering the same section takes less time, even with eight halts.
The new service is also slower than the existing Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat on certain sections. Between Mangaluru Junction and Madgaon, the existing service covers 313 km in around four hours and 28 minutes, while the proposed Yeshwantpur-Madgaon service is scheduled to take considerably longer.
Railway passenger representatives have suggested that unnecessary slack time in the timetable could be reduced to shorten the overall journey. They believe the running time could be cut by at least an hour or more across both directions.
The Railway Board has approved the introduction of the new service, which is expected to replace the existing Mangaluru Central-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express. However, the official launch date and fare details are yet to be announced.