Bengaluru: Karnataka is set to receive yet another Vande Bharat train later this month – connecting Bengaluru and Madgaon via Mangaluru. The train traversing through Konkan route will take around 13 hours to reach the Goan terminal.Railway officials said the train could be flagged off in the third week of Nov, though an exact date is yet to be finalised. The railway ministry Saturday notified the introduction of train number 26655/26656, which will operate from Yeshwantpur. It will run six days a week, departing from Yeshwantpur at 7:35 am except Wednesdays.In the return direction, the service will originate from Madgaon at 8:20 am and reach Yeshwantpur by 9:15 pm. The service will not operate from Madgaon on Thursdays.After its introduction, the railways will discontinue the Madgaon-Mangaluru Vande Bharat. IRCTC has stopped ticket reservations for it from Nov 29.The new Vande Bharat service will have 12 stoppages. It will halt at Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Sakaleshpura, Subrahmanya Road, Kabaka Puttur, Mangaluru Jn, Udupi, Kundapura, Mookambika Road Byndoor, Murdeshwar, Gokarna Road and Karwar.Fastest rail link to coastThe Bengaluru-Mangaluru route, a high-footfall corridor in Karnataka, will have the benefit of higher priority through Vande Bharat. It will reach Mangaluru in less than eight hours, faster than any other train on the route.However, speed restrictions will continue to be active along the electrified ghat section between Sakaleshpura and Subrahmanya Road. Despite having the capacity to travel at higher speeds, safety restrictions will limit the semi-high-speed express to just 30 kmph while covering the 55 km stretch.During an initial trial, South Western Railway did not plan a stop at Kabaka Puttur. However, persistent passenger demand has led to its approval now.
