---
title: "New Vande Bharat trial runs Bengaluru–Mangaluru Central route"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/vande-bharat-trial-bengaluru-mangaluru-rr3x6
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Science & Technology
published: 2026-09-05T09:00:29.509Z
modified: 2026-09-06T03:00:05.251Z
language: en-IN
---

# New Vande Bharat trial runs Bengaluru–Mangaluru Central route

Railways launched a trial run of a 16-coach Vande Bharat Express between Yesvantpur and Mangaluru Central to gauge timings on the 363 km route. The test, conducted under SWR, aims to assess travel time and ghat-section performance.

## Key takeaways

- A 16-coach Vande Bharat Express trial started on the Yesvantpur–Mangaluru Central route, covering about 363 km.
- The trial's scheduled timings are Yesvantpur 6:05 am to Mangaluru Central 2:25 pm, with stops at Hassan, Sakleshpur, and Subrahmanya Road; return on the same day ends at Yesvantpur around 11:00 pm.
- Electrification of the ghat section was completed in December 2025, enabling faster electric operation and wider use of Vande Bharat on this route.

## What Happened

The Indian Railways began a trial run of a Vande Bharat Express on the Yesvantpur–Mangaluru Central route. The test uses a 16-coach rake and covers a roughly 363 km journey. The trial is designed to evaluate the proposed travel time and timings while monitoring operations and safety aspects by senior railway officials and staff from multiple departments. The train is expected to operate through the ghat section, with timings under observation for potential adjustment.

Specific timing details released for the trial include a departure from Yesvantpur at 6:05 am and an arrival at Mangaluru Central around 2:25 pm, with intermediate pauses at Hassan, Sakleshpur, and Subrahmanya Road. The return trip is scheduled to begin from Mangaluru Central at 3:00 pm and reach Yesvantpur by about 11:00 pm, with halt times at the same intermediate stations in the reverse sequence. Officials have indicated the current eight hours and 20 minutes travel time is a target to be refined through this timing trial.

Electrification of the Bengaluru–Mangaluru ghat section was completed in December 2025, enabling faster electric trains on the route. The electrification project began in December 2023 and included five switching stations and a complete overhead system, with traction poles spaced up to 67.5 metres apart. The wider context notes that the ghat electrification opens possibilities for Vande Bharat and other fast electric services to coastal Karnataka. The trial follows a previous ghat-section trial conducted in August with a 20-coach rake and Automatic Emergency Braking, as officials test different configurations.

The initiative is part of a broader move to enhance Bengaluru–coastal connectivity. The route falls under the South Western Railway’s Bengaluru Division, and the new service would, upon introduction, extend connections toward Madgaon. This will mark the 13th Vande Bharat service operating in Karnataka, where there are already 12 pairs in service. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has publicly referenced the ghat-section electrification enabling Vande Bharat operations on this route.

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/vande-bharat-trial-bengaluru-mangaluru-rr3x6
Reported from: Multiple Sources