Bengaluru-Goa Vande Bharat to disrupt 13 trains

The Yeshwantpur-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express, connecting Bengaluru with Goa, is set to disrupt the schedules of 13 existing trains, impacting nearly 15,000 passengers. The Indian Railways report indicates the new service will face priority on the Western Ghats route, particularly along the 55-km Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road section.

The Bengaluru-Goa Vande Bharat Express is expected to run at 53-54 kmph, about the same speed as regular Mail and Express trains, operating on the 26655 and 26656 numbers. On the 26655 service, trains depart Yesvantpur at 7:35 am and reach Madgaon at 8:55 pm, running six days a week except Wednesdays. On the return journey, train 26656 leaves Madgaon at 8:20 am and arrives at Yesvantpur at 9:15 pm, operating six days a week except Thursdays.

During the 670 km journey, the train will pass through 12 stations, including Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabaka Puttur, Mangaluru Junction, Udupi, Kundapura, Mookambika Road Byndoor, Murdeshwar, Gokarna Road, and Karwar. The entire route takes nearly 13 hours and 20 minutes to reach Goa, while the return journey to Yesvantpur takes around 12 hours and 55 minutes, averaging 54 kmph and 53 kmph respectively.

With an average speed below 55 kmph, the Vande Bharat Express falls under the regular Mail and Express category, rather than the Superfast Express category.