Bengaluru to soon get seventh Vande Bharat express service to Madurai in July

Bengaluru, the bustling capital of Karnataka, is set to enhance its transportation landscape with the introduction of the seventh Vande Bharat Express, a premier train service linking SMVT Bengaluru and Madurai. The Southern Railway (SR) successfully completed trial runs after announcing the service, which was initially slated to start on June 20. However, the launch was postponed due to a tragic train accident in West Bengal on June 17.

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Officials from SR and South Western Railway (SWR) are now awaiting the official notification for the start date. According to reports, the plan is to initially operate the train as a special service until regular approval is granted by the Railway Board. Madurai railway division reportedly mentioned that this special service could commence within 14 days, featuring a limited number of trips using a newly received train set.

Vande Bharat Express services, unlike typical special trains for peak seasons, are rarely operated as special services. The Bengaluru-Madurai route is expected to be the fastest, covering 430 km in eight hours, compared to the current nine-and-a-half-hour journey. This train will be maintained at Madurai Junction.

The operational details, including speed and fares, will be finalized upon official notification. Tentatively, the train will depart from Madurai at 5:15 am, reaching SMVT Bengaluru at 1:15 pm, and return from Bengaluru at 1:45 pm, arriving in Madurai at 10:25 pm. Scheduled stops include Dindigul, Tiruchirapalli, Karur, and Salem, with possible stops at Namakkal and KR Puram still under consideration. Fares are estimated at Rs 1,200-1,300 for chair-car and Rs 1,800-2,000 for executive-class passengers.