Vande Bharat BIG Update: Indian Railways to launch 11th Vande Bharat Express in Karnataka, to connect Bengaluru with…, top speed to be…

New Delhi: In a significant step toward enhancing connectivity and transportation in South India, Indian Railways is preparing to launch Karnataka’s 11th Vande Bharat Express. The brand-new train will connect Bengaluru and Belagavi. It is important to note that the Railway ministry has opted to launch an entirely new service by allocating a dedicated trainset to the South Western Railway (SWR).

According to the reports, the train will initially comprise eight coaches, with the possibility of adding more depending on passenger demand. The demand for a premium service on the Bengaluru–Belagavi route has been steadily growing, prompting the railway authorities to act. Originally, there were plans to extend the existing Vande Bharat train from Dharwad to Belagavi. A trial run was even conducted on November 21, 2023, using an eight-coach set that hit a top speed of 110 kmph and covered the 610.6-km route in just 7 hours and 55 minutes—nearly two hours faster than the current quickest train, as per a DH report.

The newly launched train will depart from Belagavi in the morning and arrive at KSR Bengaluru by the afternoon. The return journey will commence later the same day, with the train reaching Belagavi at night. Primary maintenance will be conducted at Belagavi.

Here are some of the key details:

  • The Vande Bharat train will connect Bengaluru and Belagavi
  • A trial run was even conducted on November 21, 2023
  • The run was conducted using an eight-coach set that hit a top speed of 110 kmph and covered the 610.6-km route in just 7 hours and 55 minutes—nearly two hours faster than the current quickest train
  • The Railway Board is expected to announce the official launch date and fare details soon.
  • Tentative fares are likely to be Rs 1,500 for Chair Car and Rs 2,500 for Executive Class.

With this new addition, Karnataka will have 11 Vande Bharat Express trains. The current network includes:

  • Five from Bengaluru (to Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, and Madurai)
  • Two from Mysuru to Chennai (via Bengaluru)
  • Two from Mangaluru (to Madgaon and Thiruvananthapuram)
  • One from Hubballi to Pune

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