Vande Bharat between Bengaluru–Mangaluru-Madgaon (Goa) corridor coming soon; what it means for travellers

Good news for train travellers! In a significant update and a major announcement by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, soon there will be a new Vande Bharat train operating between Bengaluru-Mangaluru-Madgoan (Goa). India’s fast-evolving rail network is all set to run on the Western Ghats and the Konkan coast. The news was announced during his recent visit to Bengaluru. The announcement was made during the inauguration of a high-speed train manufacturing facility at BEML in Bengaluru. Talking to Akashvani and Doordarshan about Atma nirbhar high speed bullet train, the minister said that the first prototype will come out next year and production in the later part of 2027.Faster coastal journeyThe upcoming Vande Bharat Express between Bengaluru and Mangaluru stretches to Madgaon (Goa). It is going to be a much-awaited scenic route which was considered technically challenging because of steep gradients in the Western Ghats. As per the minister, these technical issues have now been resolved.As per official update, the new train is expected to be operated by South Western Railway (SWR) zone. The Railway Minister said that the Vande Bharat train service between Mangaluru and Bengaluru will be launched soon.For travellers, this means something more exciting coming your way.Go GoaThe proposed Vande Bharat Express extension to Madgaon is expected to create a seamless rail link between three major travel hubs — Bengaluru, Mangaluru and Goa. The minister said the proposed service may connect with the existing Mangaluru–Madgaon Vande Bharat Express, which currently covers the 319-km route in around 4.5 hours.A tourism game changerThe Bengaluru–Mangaluru–Madgaon corridor is a tourism game-changer as all these cities are on tourist radars.Bengaluru: The Silicon Valley of IndiaMangaluru: Gateway to coastal Karnataka, known for gorgeous and less-touristy beaches, and old templesMadgaon (Goa): India’s one of the most popular beach destinationsAs of now, travel between these regions is time-taking by train. With the introduction of new Vande Bharat, the travel time could be cut down significantly. Features of Vande Bharat trains:Automatic plug doorsKAVACH (train collision avoidance system)Reclining ergonomic seatsCCTV camerasWi-FiVacuum-based bio-toiletsTop speed: up to 180 km/hrOn the same day, he also mentioned that a superfast and a Vande Bharat sleeper train will also be operational soon between Bengaluru and Mumbai.