PANAJI: Indian Railways has approved a new Vande Bharat Express service connecting Yesvantpur in Bengaluru with Madgaon in Goa via Mangaluru, strengthening rail connectivity between Karnataka and Goa. The regular service will commence on November 15, with trains operating from both Yesvantpur and Madgaon. Two inaugural special services are scheduled to run on November 13.
According to a press release issued by South Western Railway, the inaugural special train (No. 06512) from Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal Bengaluru (SMVT Bengaluru) will depart at 1.30 pm on November 13 and arrive at Madgaon at 2.55 am the following day. It will stop at Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabakaputtur, Mangaluru Junction, Udupi, Kundapura, Mookambika Road Byndoor, Murdeshwar, Gokarna Road and Karwar before reaching Goa.
The return inaugural special (Train No. 06213) will depart from Mangaluru Junction at 1.30 pm on November 13 and reach SMVT Bengaluru at 9 pm the same day. It will halt at Kabakaputtur, Subrahmanya Road, Sakleshpur, Hassan and Shravanabelagola. Both inaugural special trains will comprise 16-car Vande Bharat rakes.
The regular service will operate six days a week in both directions, with different weekly non-operating days. Train No. 26655 from Yesvantpur to Madgaon will run except on Wednesdays, departing Yesvantpur Junction at 7.35 am and arriving at Madgaon at 8.55 pm on the same day. The journey will take approximately 13 hours and 20 minutes.
Train No. 26656 from Madgaon to Yesvantpur will operate except on Thursdays. It will depart from Madgaon at 8.20 am and reach Yesvantpur Junction at 9.15 pm, covering the journey in approximately 12 hours and 55 minutes.
On the Yesvantpur-Madgaon route, the train will halt at Shravanabelagola at 9.03 am, Hassan at 9.38 am, Sakleshpur at 10.20 am, Subrahmanya Road at 12.40 pm, Kabakaputtur at 1.25 pm and Mangaluru Junction at 3.05 pm. It will then stop at Udupi at 4.20 pm, Kundapura at 4.38 pm, Mookambika Road Byndoor at 5.20 pm, Murdeshwar at 6 pm, Gokarna Road at 7 pm and Karwar at 7.45 pm before arriving at Madgaon at 8.55 pm.
In the return direction, the train will stop at Karwar at 9.03 am, Gokarna Road at 9.48 am, Murdeshwar at 11 am, Mookambika Road Byndoor at 11.20 am, Kundapura at 11.48 am and Udupi at 12.18 pm. It will reach Mangaluru Junction at 1.50 pm, Kabakaputtur at 2.43 pm, Subrahmanya Road at 3.28 pm, Sakleshpur at 5.30 pm, Hassan at 6.13 pm and Shravanabelagola at 6.43 pm before reaching Yesvantpur at 9.15 pm.
The 16-coach Vande Bharat Express will comprise Executive Chair Car and Chair Car coaches, offering passengers modern seating and onboard facilities. The service is expected to benefit tourists, business travellers, pilgrims, students and regular commuters travelling between Bengaluru, Karnataka's coastal districts and Goa. It will also improve access to destinations such as Udupi, Kollur (Mookambika), Murdeshwar, Gokarna, Karwar and Madgaon.
With the introduction of the new service, the existing Train Nos. 20645/20646 Madgaon-Mangaluru Central-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express will be discontinued in both directions from November 15.
