Mangaluru: The new Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat train, which is set to commence on December 30 this year, underwent a trial run on Tuesday, from Mangaluru Central Railway Station to Madgaon.
Departing Mangaluru at 8:30 am, it reached Madgaon around 12:10 pm – taking only 3 hours and 40 minutes for the journey. The return trip from Madgaon departed at 12:55 pm, arriving back at Mangaluru Central at 4:35 pm, with stopovers at Karwar and Udupi along the way.
Railway sources stated that the trial run focused on route safety, arrival times, and potential challenges. The Mangaluru-Madgaon route is designed for speeds of up to 120 km per hour. During testing, the Vande Bharat train reached its maximum speed of 120 kmph.
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and MLA Vedavyas Kamath observed the departure from Mangaluru in the morning. Nalin Kumar said that there are plans for another Vande Bharat train from Mangaluru to Kozhikode in the future. Additionally, he noted the possibility of starting a service between Mangaluru and Bengaluru if the railway line is electrified.
Following its launch on December 30, the Mangaluru-Madagaon Vande Bharat train will stay overnight at Mangalore Central Station in an upgraded pit line. The provisional schedule suggests a departure from Mangaluru Central at 8:30 am, arriving at Madgaon by 1:05 pm. Departure from Madagaon is slated for 6:10 pm, reaching Mangalore Central at 10:45 pm. Details regarding train number and booking availability will follow after the launch, as per railway officials.
