The Bengaluru–Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express reached Mangaluru Junction in 7 hours and 5 minutes during its second full trial run on September 11, according to a report by Prajavani. The train departed from Yesvantpur at 6.50am and arrived at Mangaluru Junction at 1.55pm.
The trial was conducted to record the time required for the proposed service to cover the route. The train departed from Mangaluru at 2.25pm for its return journey, the report said.
Unlike the first trial run on September 5, when the train travelled up to Mangaluru Central station, the second run was limited to Mangaluru Junction. The first trial had taken 9 hours and 57 minutes to reach Mangaluru.
The second run used a 16-coach Vande Bharat Express rake. According to sources cited in the report, technical issues during the first trial contributed to the longer journey time. The latest trial therefore recorded a travel time that was 2 hours and 52 minutes shorter than the first run.
The trial run establishes the latest recorded journey time for the proposed Bengaluru–Mangaluru connection, but the report does not provide details about a commercial launch date, fare structure, regular timetable or the final station pattern. Those details will determine how the service is eventually operated for passengers.
The latest test was conducted between Yesvantpur and Mangaluru Junction, with the return journey beginning from Mangaluru at 2.25pm. Further operational decisions on the service were not specified in the report.
