Ernakulam–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express to flag off tomorrow: Why Keralites are thrilled about new high-speed train
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to flag off four new Vande Bharat Express trains on November 8, including the much-awaited Ernakulam–KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express, a service that promises to transform travel between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
The inaugural ceremony will take place in Varanasi, where the Prime Minister will launch the new services via video conferencing. For Kerala, this marks a historic milestone, the third Vande Bharat train for the state and its first inter-state high-speed connection to Bengaluru.
Why Kerala is excited about the Ernakulam–Bengaluru Vande Bharat
For thousands of professionals, students, and entrepreneurs who regularly commute between Ernakulam and Bengaluru, the new Vande Bharat Express is nothing short of a dream come true.
The train will cut travel time by over two hours, completing the journey in just 8 hours and 40 minutes. The route is designed to offer fast, comfortable, and safe travel, connecting major business and IT hubs while also encouraging tourism and economic growth across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
According to Southern Railway, the new train, "will connect major IT and commercial hubs, providing professionals, students, and tourists with a faster and more comfortable travel option.”
Schedule and timings of the Ernakulam–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express
According to reports, the new Vande Bharat Express will run six days a week, with Wednesdays reserved for maintenance.
Train No. 26651 (KSR Bengaluru – Ernakulam)
Departure: 5:10 AM from KSR Bengaluru
Arrival: 1:50 PM at Ernakulam
Train No. 26652 (Ernakulam – KSR Bengaluru)
Departure: 2:20 PM from Ernakulam
Arrival: 11:00 PM at KSR Bengaluru
The train will make commercial halts at:
Thrissur, Palakkad, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, and Krishnarajapuram.
Each rake will feature eight modern coaches, seven air-conditioned chair cars and one executive chair car, equipped with reclining seats, upgraded lighting, quick boarding facilities, and superior safety systems.
A boost for Kerala’s railway network
The introduction of this route marks a major milestone in Kerala’s railway modernisation. The state already operates two successful Vande Bharat services:
- Kasargod–Thiruvananthapuram–Kasargod
- Mangaluru–Thiruvananthapuram–Mangaluru
Both have been praised for their punctuality, comfort, and efficiency, setting a high benchmark for premium rail travel in the state.
Vande Bharat’s growing network
Along with the Ernakulam–Bengaluru route, Prime Minister Modi will also flag off:
- Banaras–Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express
- Lucknow Junction–Saharanpur Vande Bharat Express
- Firozpur Cantt–Delhi Vande Bharat Express
With this, the Southern Railway zone will operate 12 pairs of Vande Bharat Express trains.