- By Deeksha Gour
- Thu, 27 Jun 2024 11:58 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Bengaluru-Madurai Vande Bharat: Bengaluru is set to welcome its seventh Vande Bharat Express in early July. This premium train service, which was initially scheduled to commence operations on June 20, has been delayed due to a fatal train accident in West Bengal on June 17.
The Southern Railway (SR) had announced the introduction of the Vande Bharat Express between SMVT Bengaluru and Madurai in early June and a successful trial run was conducted. However, the official notification regarding the commencement of the service is still awaited, according to officials from both the SR and the South Western Railway (SWR).
"The special train could start within 14 days with a certain number of trips," a senior official in the Madurai railway division told a local publication. The Madurai division has already received a rake (trainset) for the new service.
While the railways typically operate special trains to cater to increased demand during peak seasons, the Vande Bharat service is rarely run in this manner. Additionally, the Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil Vande Bharat Express, which was also announced in early June, is currently operating as a special train.
According to the Deccan Herald report, the Bengaluru-Madurai Vande Bharat Express is expected to be the fastest train between the two cities, covering the 430 km distance in just eight hours. This will be a significant improvement over the current fastest train, which takes nine-and-a-half hours to complete the journey.
Bengaluru To Madurai Vande Bharat Train Schedule
According to the tentative timetable, the train will depart from Madurai at 5:15 am and reach SMVT Bengaluru at 1:15 pm. In the return direction, the train will leave SMVT Bengaluru at 1:45 pm and reach Madurai at 10:25 pm. The stoppages will include Dindigul, Tiruchirapalli, Karur and Salem, with the possibility of additional stops at Namakkal and KR Puram.
Bengaluru To Madurai Vande Bharat Express Fare
The chair-car fare for the Bengaluru-Madurai Vande Bharat Express is expected to be in the range of Rs 1200-1300, while the executive-class passengers will likely pay Rs 1800-2000.
Bengaluru already boasts a fleet of Vande Bharat trains, with services to Chennai/Mysuru, Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Hyderabad and Coimbatore. Additionally, a Vande Bharat train has been proposed between Bengaluru and Ernakulam, further strengthening the city's high-speed rail network.