The Railway Board approved the new Yeswantpur-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express on October 30. This train will run six days a week, connecting Bengaluru to Goa through the scenic Western Ghats. It takes 13 hours to complete the journey. Officials have not yet said when the service will start for passengers.
Vande Bharat Express connecting Bengaluru and Goa via picturesque Western Ghats is set to be introduced soon. The service will offer passengers a comfortable journey through scenic ghat section between Sakleshpur and Subrahmanya Road.
The Railway Board, on October 30, approved introduction of 26655/26656 Yeswantpur-Madgaon-Yeswantpur Vande Bharat Express, a chair car service via Mangaluru Junction.
The Ministry of Railways has approved six-day-a-week service, which will connect several towns across Karnataka's hinterland and coastal belt, including Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Udupi, Kundapura, Byndoor, Murdeshwar, Gokarna Road and Karwar.
Also, read: Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper likely to launch from November 1
Yeswantpur-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express (26655) will leave Yeswantpur at 7.35am and arrive at Madgaon at 8.55pm. In the return direction, train 26656 will leave Madgaon at 8.20am and reach Yeswantpur at 9.15pm.
The train will halt at Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabaka Puttur, Mangaluru Junction, Udupi, Kundapura, Mookambika Road Byndoor, Murdeshwar, Gokarna Road and Karwar. It will also have a halt at Thokur in Yeswantpur-Madgaon direction.
The service will operate six days a week, except Wednesdays from Yeswantpur and Thursdays from Madgaon. Two Vande Bharat rakes will be deployed for the service, with maintenance facilities at Yeswantpur and Madgaon and watering arrangements at Mangaluru Junction.
Meanwhile, Railway Board has decided to discontinue existing 20645/20646 Mangaluru Central-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express, citing low passenger patronage.
However, railway officials are yet to announce the launch date and fare structure for the new service.