Indian Railways is set to launch a new Vande Bharat Express service connecting Bengaluru, coastal Karnataka, and Goa. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the train from Bengaluru, while Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is scheduled to launch the service simultaneously from Mangaluru Junction on November 13, 2026.
Regular services for the route (Train No. 26655/26656) will commence on November 15, 2026. According to the South Western Railway, the train will operate six days a week. It will run from Yesvantpur to Madgaon, except on Wednesdays, while the return service from Madgaon to Yesvantpur will run except on Thursdays.
The service will cover approximately 671 km, with the Yesvantpur-Madgaon train departing at 7:35 am and reaching its destination at 8:55 pm. The return train departs Madgaon at 8:20 am, arriving in Yesvantpur at 9:15 pm. The Hindu reports that these services will be the slowest among the 82 pairs of Vande Bharat trains currently in operation, with an average speed of 54 kmph in the down direction and 53 kmph in the up direction.
To mark the inauguration on November 13, two special trains will run. The first (Train No. 06512) will depart from SMVT Bengaluru at 1:30 pm, reaching Madgaon the following day at 2:55 am. A second special (Train No. 06213) will depart from Mangaluru Junction at 1:30 pm and arrive at SMVT Bengaluru at 9:00 pm the same day.
Key facts
- The route includes 12 intermediate stops: Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabakaputtur, Mangaluru Junction, Udupi, Kundapura, Mookambika Road Byndoor, Murdeshwar, Gokarna Road and Karwar.
- The trains will utilize 16-car Vande Bharat rakes featuring an orange livery.
- Regular services will depart from Yesvantpur in Bengaluru rather than the SMVT station used for the inaugural special.
- The Railway Ministry stated that the existing Mangaluru Central-Madgaon-Mangaluru Central Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 20646/645) will be discontinued from November 15.
Why it matters
The new rail link is expected to provide connectivity for tourists, students, business travellers, and regular commuters between Karnataka and Goa. Passengers on this route will pay nearly ₹200 more compared to other Vande Bharat services covering similar distances, according to The Hindu.
Background
The Railway Minister had previously announced on September 29 that the Yesvantpur-Mangaluru-Madgaon service would be introduced by extending the existing Mangaluru Central-Madgaon Vande Bharat route.
Source: Economic Times, The Hindu
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