Karnataka: 2nd Vande Bharat train on Bengaluru-Chennai route; new VB train to Kalaburagi

Vande Bharat Express

Indian Railways will operate another Vande Bharat train on the Mysuru-Bengaluru-Chennai route. It will also introduce a new Vande Bharat train between Bengaluru and Kalaburagi in North Karnataka.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to launch these new Vande Bharat trains on March 12.

Sources said that the 20663 Mysuru - Chennai Central Vande Bharat will depart from Mysuru at 6 am, and halt at Mandya at 6:28 am. In Bengaluru, the train will halt at SMVT (Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal) at 7:45 am, and Krishnarajapuram at 8:04 am. Other halts include Katpadi at 10:33 am, and MGR Chennai Central at 12:20 pm.

On the return journey, train number 20664 will leave Chennai Central at 5 pm, arrive in Katpadi at 6:23 pm, Krishnarajapuram at 8:48 pm, SMVT Bengaluru at 9:25 pm, Mandya at 10:38 pm, and reach Mysuru at 11:20 pm.

The stoppage of Vande Bharat train at Krishnarajapuram will be a relief, especially for techies on Outer Ring Road, Whitefield, and other areas traveling along this route.

Officials said train will run between SMVT Bengaluru and MGR Chennai Central until the maintenance facility at Mysuru is completed. Train will regularly operate between Mysuru and MGR Chennai Central six days a week, excluding Wednesdays from April 5.

Also, read: Budget proposes 3 major railway corridors, upgrading 40,000 trains to Vande Bharat status

The first Vande Bharat between these two cities: 20607/20608 MGR Chennai Central-Bengaluru-Mysuru Vande Bharat Express has been operational since November 2022 with stops at Mysuru, KSR Bengaluru City and Katpadi.

Now, railways have decided to introduce a new Vande Bharat train between SMVT Bengaluru and Kalaburagi. The 22231 Kalaburagi-SMVT Bengaluru Vande Bharat will leave from Kalaburagi at 5:15 am, reaching Yelahanka at 12:45 pm and SMVT Bengaluru at 2 pm. The 22232 SMVT Bengaluru-Kalaburagi Vande Bharat train will leave SMVT Bengaluru at 2:40 pm and reach Kalaburagi at 11:30 pm.

Meanwhile, railways is also likely to extend 20632/20631 Thiruvananthapuram-Kasargod Vande Bharat Express up to Mangaluru.

Also, read: Indian Railways plans to launch 60 new Vande Bharat trains in 2024: