• Source:JND

Travelers heading to the beaches of Goa from Karnataka's capital have reason to cheer. Indian Railways is preparing to launch a new semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express connecting Bengaluru to Goa (Madgaon). Official sources confirm that South Western Railway (SWR) has already submitted a detailed proposal to the Railway Board. Once the final clearance is received, the official timetable will be released.

13-Hour Journey Across The Coast

According to the proposed schedule, the train will significantly simplify the journey between the two hubs.

Departure from Bengaluru: The train is expected to leave Yesvantpur Station at 6:05 am, reaching Madgaon Junction by 7:15 pm.

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Return Journey: On its way back, the train will depart from Madgaon at 5:30 am and pull into Yesvantpur at 6:40 pm.

The entire trip is estimated to take approximately 13 hours, offering a faster and more comfortable alternative to current rail and bus options.

Proposed Route And Strategic Changes

To optimise travel time, South Western Railway has suggested a strategic route adjustment. The train is planned to skip the heavily congested Mangaluru Junction and Mangaluru Central stations, instead utilising the Padil Bypass.

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Infrastructure Upgrades for Speed

The SWR has also proposed several technical improvements to ensure the semi-high-speed nature of the Vande Bharat:

Increasing Speed Limits: A proposal to raise the limit from 110 kmph to 130 kmph between Chikka Banavara and Hassan.

Ghat Section Efficiency: In the challenging Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road Ghat section, officials aim to increase the speed from 30 kmph to 40 kmph.

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Awaiting Final Board Approval

This project gained momentum following an announcement by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during a recent high-level meeting. Following his directive, the ministry requested a formal proposal, which SWR submitted to the Railway Board approximately 20 days ago.

A senior official from South Western Railway confirmed that the zone is now awaiting the green signal from the Board. Once approved, the official launch date and ticketing details will be shared with the public.


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