Bengaluru-Goa Vande Bharat via coastal route: 13-hour high-speed plan unveiled

Railway Ministry proposes Yesvantpur–Madgaon Vande Bharat Express via Mangaluru region, promising faster coastal connectivity with upgraded speed corridors.

Soon after Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the launch of a coastal Vande Bharat Express, the Railway Ministry has proposed a new high-speed service connecting Yesvantpur in Bengaluru to Madgaon in Goa through the Mangaluru railway region.

As per the proposal, the train will bypass Mangaluru Junction and Mangaluru Central stations, instead operating through the Padil bypass line. This route choice is aimed at reducing congestion and keeping the total journey time to about 13 hours in each direction.

The South Western Railway (SWR), in its official note, stated that routing the train through Mangaluru Junction would significantly increase the travel time. Hence, the Padil bypass has been selected to ensure smoother and faster operations.

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To operate this service, two Vande Bharat rakes will be deployed, with one train starting from Yesvantpur and the other from Madgaon every morning. Both services are expected to reach their destinations by evening, offering a convenient same-day travel option for passengers.

Tentative Timetable

According to the tentative schedule:

•    The Yesvantpur-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express will depart Bengaluru at 6:05 am, reach Padil by 2:00 pm, and arrive at Madgaon at 7:15 pm, completing the journey in 13 hours and 10 minutes.
•    The Madgaon-Yesvantpur service will leave Goa at 5:30 am, reach Padil by 11:00 am, and arrive at Yesvantpur at 6:40 pm, also covering the distance in 13 hours and 10 minutes.

The Railway Ministry noted that the average operational speed is currently under 50 kmph. However, SWR officials said significant time savings could be achieved once speed limits are enhanced on key sections.

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Plans are underway to increase speeds from 110 kmph to 130 kmph between Chikka Banawara and Hassan, and from 30 kmph to 40 kmph on the Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road Ghat section, which could further reduce travel time.

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao welcomed the proposal, stating that introducing three Vande Bharat trains to Mangaluru would ensure faster and more efficient connectivity to coastal Karnataka, benefiting commuters, tourists, and businesses.

Once approved, the Bengaluru-Goa Vande Bharat service is expected to significantly improve rail connectivity along the western coastal corridor, offering a faster, comfortable, and modern travel experience.