The Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express reached Mangaluru Junction in 7 hours and 5 minutes during its second full trial run on Thursday, September 11, recording a shorter journey than the first trial conducted earlier this month.
The 16-coach train departed from Yesvantpur station in Bengaluru at 6.50am and arrived at Mangaluru Junction at 1.55pm, according to a report by Prajavani. The train departed from Mangaluru on its return journey at 2.25pm.
The trial was conducted to record the time required for the service to travel between Bengaluru and Mangaluru. Unlike the first trial, which reached Mangaluru Central station, the second run was limited to Mangaluru Junction.
During the first time trial on September 5, the train took 9 hours and 57 minutes to reach Mangaluru. The latest run therefore reduced the recorded travel time by 2 hours and 52 minutes. The report did not specify the intermediate stations, operating speed or the reasons for limiting the second run to Mangaluru Junction.
The first trial run involved the same 16-coach Vande Bharat Express rake. Sources cited in the report said technical problems were observed during that initial run, contributing to the delay. The report did not provide further details about the nature of the technical issues or whether they were addressed before the second trial.
The Bengaluru-Mangaluru rail link serves a major connection between Karnataka’s capital region and the coastal city of Mangaluru. A Vande Bharat service on the route would introduce a faster premium intercity train option, but the trial timings alone do not establish the final commercial operating schedule.
The latest run was a time trial rather than a confirmed passenger service. The report did not announce a launch date, ticket fares, reservation arrangements or the final timetable. Those details would need to be issued by the railway authorities before regular operations begin.
