The Bengaluru–Goa Vande Bharat Express will begin regular services from November 15, connecting Yeshwantpur in Bengaluru with Madgaon in Goa through Karnataka’s Malnad and coastal regions. The 16-coach chair-car train is expected to improve rail connectivity between the two destinations and provide access to several tourist and pilgrimage centres along the route.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the service on November 13 during his visit to Bengaluru. The inaugural service will depart from Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) in Bengaluru.
Bengaluru–Goa Vande Bharat: Timings and schedule
The regular service will operate under train numbers 26655 and 26656.
- Yeshwantpur–Madgaon (26655): Departure at 7.35 am; arrival at 8.55 pm. The train will operate six days a week, except Wednesdays.
- Madgaon–Yeshwantpur (26656): Departure at 8.20 am; arrival at 9.15 pm. The return service will operate six days a week, except Thursdays.
The journey from Bengaluru to Madgaon will take approximately 13 hours and 20 minutes. The return journey will take around 12 hours and 55 minutes.
Route and major stoppages
The train will connect several important towns across Karnataka before reaching Goa. Its scheduled stops include Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabakaputtur, Mangaluru Junction, Thokur, Udupi, Kundapura, Mookambika Road Byndoor, Murdeshwar, Gokarna Road and Karwar.
The route will pass through the Western Ghats, particularly the stretch between Sakleshpur and Subrahmanya Road, offering passengers views of forested hills, valleys and railway bridges.
The service is expected to benefit tourists and pilgrims travelling to destinations such as Kukke Subrahmanya, Udupi, Kollur, Murdeshwar and Gokarna, besides improving connectivity for business travellers.
Existing Mangaluru–Madgaon Vande Bharat to be discontinued
With the introduction of the new Bengaluru–Madgaon service, the existing Madgaon–Mangaluru Central–Madgaon Vande Bharat Express, operating under train numbers 20645 and 20646, will be discontinued from November 15.
The new service will be maintained at Yeshwantpur, while Mangaluru Junction will serve as a designated watering point. Two 16-coach Vande Bharat trainsets will be deployed for the service.
The new connection marks an expansion of Vande Bharat operations across Karnataka’s coastal belt and provides a direct link between Bengaluru and Goa through some of the region’s key tourism destinations.
