The new train will connect Bengaluru with Goa via coastal Karnataka and is expected to begin regular operations on November 15.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off the new Yesvantpur-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express, providing faster rail connectivity between Bengaluru, coastal Karnataka, and Goa, according to The Economic Times. Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was also present at the inauguration.
The service will connect Yesvantpur directly to Madgaon, passing through stations including Hassan, Sakleshpur, Mangaluru, and Udupi. Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar told ANI that the service is a significant addition for travellers, noting that the picturesque landscapes of the route would make the journey enjoyable.
Regular commercial operations are scheduled to begin on November 15, following two inaugural special services on November 13. Train No. 26655 will depart Yesvantpur Junction at 7:35 am and reach Madgaon at 8:55 pm, while the return service, Train No. 26656, will depart Madgaon at 8:20 am and arrive at Yesvantpur at 9:15 pm.
The launch coincided with other infrastructure projects, including the electrification of the Sakleshwar-Subrahmanya Road route and a doubling project between Bagalkot and Vandal. Kumar stated these developments would boost the regional economy and reduce the Railways' reliance on diesel fuel.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also noted that ₹94 crore has been approved for the development of Mangaluru Central into a model station. Additionally, the electrification of the Subrahmanya Road-Sakleshpur section, costing approximately ₹100 crore, was inaugurated during the event.
