Bengaluru-Ernakulam Vande Bharat Express to resume next month

Railway Ministry announces launch of a new Vande Bharat Express between Bengaluru and Ernakulam via Palakkad, reducing travel time to nine hours with key city stops.

After more than a year since the temporary tri-weekly Vande Bharat Express was withdrawn in mid-2024, the Railway Ministry is ready to launch a new semi-high-speed train connecting Bengaluru and Ernakulam. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the service is likely to begin by mid-November 2025, providing relief to thousands of commuters who have been demanding faster connectivity.

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The new Vande Bharat Express will follow the route via Thrissur, Palakkad, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, and Krishnarajapuram, covering the journey in just nine hours. This move comes after the KSR Bengaluru-Ernakulam Superfast Express was downgraded to an express train in September, which slowed average travel times and caused public dissatisfaction.

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Officials say the new service aims to restore semi-high-speed connectivity, reduce travel time, and provide a modern, comfortable option for daily and frequent travelers between Karnataka and Kerala. The train’s launch is part of the Indian Railways’ broader push to expand Vande Bharat services across major intercity routes, enhancing speed, efficiency, and convenience.