New Vande Bharat Express to connect Bengaluru and Goa via Mangaluru
The service will operate six days a week and travel through the Western Ghats between Sakleshpur and Subrahmanya Road.
The Railway Board has approved the introduction of the Yeswantpur-Madgaon-Yeswantpur Vande Bharat Express, which will connect Bengaluru and Goa via Mangaluru Junction, according to Moneycontrol.
The service will operate six days a week, except Wednesdays from Yeswantpur and Thursdays from Madgaon. The Railway Board approved the 26655/26656 chair car service on October 30.
The train will depart Yeswantpur at 7.35 am and arrive in Madgaon at 8.55 pm. In the return direction, train 26656 will leave Madgaon at 8.20 am and reach Yeswantpur at 9.15 pm, The Hindu reported.
Scheduled halts include Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabaka Puttur, Mangaluru Junction, Udupi, Kundapura, Mookambika Road Byndoor, Murdeshwar, Gokarna Road, Karwar and Thokur.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced he will flag off the service in Mangaluru before the third week of November. The existing Mangaluru Central-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express will be discontinued due to low passenger patronage, Moneycontrol reported.
Two Vande Bharat rakes will be used for the service, with maintenance at Yeswantpur and Madgaon and watering arrangements at Mangaluru Junction.