Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the brand-new Yesvantpur-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express on Friday, securing a high-speed passenger rail link between Bengaluru, the Karnataka coastline, and Goa. The launch expands Indian Railways' flagship semi-high-speed network onto an entirely electrified corridor. DK Shivakumar attended the ceremonial rollout alongside senior railway administrators.
Diesel engines will step aside. By moving this sector onto electrified tracks, South Western Railway strips out heavy fuel burn across the Western Ghats while shaving hours off highway driving. Regular commercial runs commence on November 15, following two inaugural exhibition runs on November 13.
Train No. 26655 departs Yesvantpur Junction at 7:35 AM and pulls into Madgaon at 8:55 PM, clocking a complete transit time of 13 hours and 20 minutes. The outbound rake runs six days every week, resting only on Wednesdays. Along the way, the train calls at 12 stations: Shravanabelagola (9:03 AM), Hassan (9:38 AM), Sakleshpur (10:20 AM), Subrahmanya Road (12:40 PM), Kabakaputtur (1:25 PM), Mangaluru Junction (3:05 PM), Udupi (4:20 PM), Kundapura (4:38 PM), Mookambika Road Byndoor (5:20 PM), Murdeshwar (6:00 PM), Gokarna Road (7:00 PM), and Karwar (7:45 PM).
Speed matters on this corridor. Yet reliability matters more.
In the reverse direction, Train No. 26656 steams out of Madgaon at 8:20 AM and hits Yesvantpur Junction by 9:15 PM, covering the return leg in 12 hours and 55 minutes. The return rake operates six days a week, pausing operations on Thursdays. Intermediate return timings include Karwar at 9:03 AM, Gokarna Road at 9:48 AM, Murdeshwar at 11:00 AM, Mookambika Road Byndoor at 11:20 AM, Kundapura at 11:48 AM, Udupi at 12:18 PM, Mangaluru Junction at 1:50 PM, Kabakaputtur at 2:43 PM, Subrahmanya Road at 3:28 PM, Sakleshpur at 5:30 PM, Hassan at 6:13 PM, and Shravanabelagola at 6:43 PM.
Both train sets consist of 16 all-air-conditioned chair car coaches built with European-style ergonomic seating, wide overhead luggage bays, and fully sealed anti-gangways that damp external track roar. The rakes utilize regenerative braking systems that feed kinetic power straight back into the overhead electric grid during deceleration, alongside aircraft-style bio-vacuum toilets and automated sliding doors.
By connecting Bengaluru directly to the premier tourism destination of Goa while passing through Bengaluru, this new service is a wonderful addition for the people of Karnataka and all travellers," stated Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar. "The train route traverses very picturesque landscapes, making the journey itself a true pleasure well before you reach your destination.
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origin & Destination | Yesvantpur Junction to Madgaon | Madgaon to Yesvantpur Junction | |||
| Departure & Arrival | 07:35 Dep / 20:55 Arr | 08:20 Dep / 21:15 Arr | |||
| Total Journey Duration | 13 Hours 20 Minutes | 12 Hours 55 Minutes | |||
| Operating Frequency | 6 Days/Week (No Wednesday Service) |
Passenger bookings across all 16 coaches opened across official railway reservation counters and digital booking channels ahead of the November 15 commercial launch.
| 6 Days/Week (No Thursday Service) |
| Intermediate Halts | 12 Stations across Karnataka & Goa | 12 Stations across Goa & Karnataka |
| Rake Composition | 16 Air-Conditioned Chair Coaches | 16 Air-Conditioned Chair Coaches |