Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat reaches Mangaluru 55 minutes early in second trial run
The much-awaited Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express has delivered an encouraging result in its second trial run, reaching Mangaluru 55 minutes ahead of its scheduled arrival time.
The 16-coach Vande Bharat left Yesvantpur Junction at 6.50 am and reached Mangaluru Junction at 1.55 pm on Thursday, well before its scheduled arrival at 2.50 pm, reported The Hindu.
The trial has strengthened expectations that the semi-high-speed train could substantially reduce travel time between Bengaluru and Mangaluru once regular services begin.
The trial is particularly significant because the Bengaluru-Mangaluru route passes through the steep Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road ghat section, one of the more challenging stretches on the route.
The Vande Bharat rake used for the trial is equipped with an Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system, a specialised safety feature suited to operations involving steep gradients and downhill sections.
During the journey, the train made scheduled stops at Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road and Kabaka Puttur before continuing towards Mangaluru.
The train's ability to complete the trial ahead of schedule, despite traversing the difficult ghat terrain, has added to the anticipation around the proposed Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat service.
Second trial shows improvement after earlier setback
The latest run also marks a smoother performance compared with the first trial, when technical issues were reported on the Yedakumeri-Subrahmanya section.
That earlier trial, which was conducted up to Mangaluru Central, was delayed by more than two hours, with the train reaching at around 4.30 pm. Railway engineers subsequently worked on the technical issues before the second trial.
The latest run ended on a more positive note, with the rake departing Mangaluru Junction at 3.10 pm for its return journey to Yesvantpur.
The second successful trial has now increased expectations over the Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express, particularly for passengers looking for a faster rail connection between the two major Karnataka cities.