The upcoming Yeshwantpur-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express, which will connect Bengaluru with Goa, is expected to receive priority on the Western Ghats route, particularly along the 55-km Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road section. However, accommodating the new service could disrupt the schedules of 13 existing trains and affect nearly 15,000 regular passengers, according to a Times of India (TOI) report.
A railway official told TOI that while the Vande Bharat Express is expected to carry around 1,100 passengers, the TOI report claims that nearly 15,000 passengers could be affected by the revised timetable. The changes are expected to cover 13 trains operating along the corridor.
The 16576 Mangaluru Junction-Yeshwantpur Gomteshwara Express, widely used by passengers travelling between Mangaluru and Bengaluru, is set to see a significant change in its schedule. The train currently arrives at Yeshwantpur at 4.30 pm. Under the proposed timetable, it will leave Mangaluru at 11.40 am and reach Bengaluru at 10.15 pm, the TOI report said.
The Gomteshwara Express has a vistadome coach that allows passengers to enjoy panoramic views of the Western Ghats. The revised schedule, however, could take away the convenience of reaching Bengaluru by late afternoon, particularly for passengers who prefer daytime travel.
The 16516 Karwar-Yeshwantpur Express is also likely to be affected. The train currently reaches Bengaluru at 8.50 pm, but its arrival time is expected to shift to 10.15 pm under the revised schedule, as per the TOI report.
The 22679 Yeshwantpur-Hassan Superfast Express is expected to record an average speed of less than 55 kmph in both directions. The reduction could add to the journey time for passengers travelling on this route.
In addition to the major timetable changes, other trains operating along the corridor are likely to face en-route regulation of 10 to 25 minutes. These adjustments are intended to accommodate the Vande Bharat Express, which will be given priority through the ghat section.
The Bengaluru-Goa Vande Bharat Express will run via Mangaluru Junction, covering 12 stations along the route: Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabaka Puttur, Mangaluru Junction, Udupi, Kundapura, Mookambika Road Byndoor, Murdeshwar, Gokarna Road, and Karwar. The train will pass through the Western Ghats, including the scenic stretch between Sakleshpur and Subrahmanya Road.
The Yesvantpur-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express will operate under train numbers 26655 and 26656, a TOI report said.
Train 26655 will depart from Yesvantpur at 7:35 am and reach Madgaon at 8:55 pm. The service will run six days a week, except Wednesdays.
Train 26656 on the return journey will leave Madgaon at 8:20 am and arrive at Yesvantpur at 9:15 pm, operating six days a week, except Thursdays.
The journey from Yesvantpur to Madgaon is set to be nearly 13 hours and 20 minutes, while the return trip to Yesvantpur is scheduled to take around 12 hours and 55 minutes.
The Bengaluru-Goa Vande Bharat Express is expected to be one of the slowest and longest-running services in the Vande Bharat network. Covering a distance of 670 km, the Vande Bharat Express will take 12 hours and 20 minutes on its journey to Goa, while the return trip is scheduled to take 12 hours and 55 minutes. This translates into an average speed of 54 kmph and 53 kmph, respectively.
With an average speed below 55 kmph, the Bengaluru-Goa service will fall short of the threshold for the Superfast Express category. Instead, its speed will be comparable to that of regular Mail and Express trains, which typically average 50-54 kmph. Indian Railways classifies trains operating at an average speed of 55 kmph or above as Superfast Express services.
However, the relatively slow journey time is partly due to the challenging terrain along the Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road ghat section in the Western Ghats, where trains must adhere to safety-related speed restrictions.
