- Vande Bharat Express completed second trial run between Bengaluru and Mangaluru on Sept 10
- Train covered the journey in 7 hours, ahead of the scheduled 7 hours 20 minutes
- Second trial used a 16-coach rake with automatic emergency braking system successfully
The Vande Bharat Express running between Bengaluru and coastal commercial hub Mangaluru completed its second trial run on September 10. The process indicated that the premium train could connect the two cities in around seven hours.
The South Western Railway (SWR) conducted the second trial after glitches were reported during the first run earlier in September. According to the planned schedule, the trial Vande Bharat rake departed from Yesvantpur at 6.50 am and reached Mangaluru Junction at 1.55 pm, against the scheduled arrival time of 2.50 pm, completing the journey in 7 hours.
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The 16-coach Vande Bharat Express departed from Yesvantpur at 6.50 am and was scheduled to reach Hassan at 9.35 am, Sakleshpur at 10.30 am, Subrahmanya Road at 12.55 pm, Kabaka Puttur at 1.36 pm and Mangaluru Junction at 2.50 pm. On its return journey, the trial special was scheduled to depart from Mangaluru Junction at 3.10 pm and reach Kabaka Puttur at 3.40 pm, Subrahmanya Road at 4.40 pm, Sakleshpur at 6.55 pm, Hassan at 7.47 pm and Yesvantpur at 10.30 pm.
On the return journey, the Vande Bharat rake departed from Mangaluru Junction at 2.25 pm and reached Yesvantpur at 9.14 pm, completing the journey in just 6 hours and 49 minutes. The South Western Railway (SWR) headquarters had initially allotted 7 hours and 20 minutes for the return journey, with the train scheduled to leave Mangaluru Junction at 3.10 pm and reach Yesvantpur at 10.30 pm.
In its notification issued on Wednesday, the SWR headquarters had directed the Bengaluru and Mysuru divisions to complete the trial in the minimum possible time while adhering to all safety and operational protocols.
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While the first trial run on September 5 was conducted up to Mangaluru Central, the second trial was restricted to Mangaluru Junction for operational reasons.
Both trial runs were conducted using a 2023-make, 16-car Vande Bharat rake equipped with an automatic emergency braking (AEB) system. A senior South Western Railway (SWR) official described Thursday's trial as a “success”, paving the way for the introduction of regular Vande Bharat services between Bengaluru and Mangaluru and other parts of coastal Karnataka.
The first trial on September 5, however, was affected by technical glitches in the Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road ghat section. The trial rake, which carried officials from the operations, mechanical, electrical, signal and telecommunications and other departments, faced issues with the stability of the overhead electric equipment in the ghat section. This resulted in a delay of around two hours, with the train reaching Mangaluru Central at 4:25 pm instead of the scheduled 2:25 pm.
The Vande Bharat's trial timings also stood out when compared with existing trains on the route. The Bengaluru-Karwar Panchaganga Express (16595) takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes to travel between Yesvantpur and Hassan, with two halts en route. Despite having no scheduled stops during the trial, the Vande Bharat was allotted 2 hours and 45 minutes for the same stretch. If the Vande Bharat can cover the distance in around two hours, the overall journey time between Bengaluru and Mangaluru could come down to around seven hours.
Meanwhile, the Bengaluru-Kozhikode Express (16511) takes around 9 hours and 25 minutes to cover the distance between Yesvantpur and Mangaluru, with 10 commercial halts along the way. With the Vande Bharat expected to have only a few stops, the premium train is likely to complete the journey in significantly less time.
