Bengaluru-Chennai travel time on Vande Bharat set to reduce to 4 hours

With this, the entire Bengaluru-Chennai route will be fit for 130 kmph operations. This upgrade primarily benefits two Vande Bharat and two Shatabdi Express trains that run daily between the two cities.

Travel time between Bengaluru and Chennai on Vande Bharat is set to reduce by 25 minutes to four hours, with railways looking to increase the speed on the section.

Similarly, travel time of Shatabdi, which now takes around five hours, will also be reduced by at least 20 minutes.

The Bengaluru division of the South Western Railway (SWR) is conducting a speed trial on the Bengaluru-Jolarpettai section on December 5 to increase the limit from 110 km an hour to 130 kmph. The revised speed will be implemented after receiving an all-clear from the commissioner of railway safety.

"The Bengaluru division of SWR will conduct a speed trial on the Bengaluru-Jolarpettai section on December 5 to increase the sectional speed," SWR said in a statement a day earlier.

It advised public not to trespass on railway tracks. Passengers at station platforms should exercise caution, maintain a safe distance from the tracks and avoid trespassing.

Last year, the Chennai-Jolarpettai route was upgraded to 130 kmph. Once the Bengaluru-Jolarpettai section gets the nod, the speed limit for the entire Chennai route will be 130 kmph. The upgrade will primarily benefit two Vande Bharat and two Shatabdi Express trains that run daily between Bengaluru and Chennai.

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While the Vande Bharat train achieved a maximum speed of 183 kmph during trial runs, its operational speed is capped at 160 kmph due to track limitations.

The 360-km Bengaluru-Chennai corridor is a high-density route, housing major tech parks, manufacturing units, and residential townships. It connects Chennai, an automobile manufacturing hub, and Bengaluru, a prominent tech and startup centre.

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“Increasing the maximum permissible speed beyond 130 kmph will require strengthening or rebuilding bridges, fencing, eliminating level crossings, and flattening curves or gradients. Additionally, the number of stoppages will impact the average speed," an SWR official said on condition of anonymity.