Vande Bharat trial runs on Mangaluru–Bengaluru ghat section from August 11

Vande Bharat trial runs on Mangaluru–Bengaluru ghat section from August 11

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug. 9, 2026: Preparatory work has begun for trial runs of a Vande Bharat Express on the ghat section of the Mangaluru–Hassan–Bengaluru railway route, with the actual trials scheduled from August 11 to 20, railway officials said.

The trials will be conducted at low speeds with additional safety measures, particularly following recent restoration works necessitated by monsoon-related disruptions and a landslide. The section currently has a speed restriction of 20 kmph, which is expected to be raised to the designated 30 kmph limit once track fitness is fully restored.

The Vande Bharat rake sanctioned for the trials is currently stationed at Pandavapura halt in Mandya district. Manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, the train sets were recently allotted to the South Western Railway zone.

A key focus of the trials will be the automatic emergency braking (AEB) system, which uses pre-fed route parameters to automatically apply brakes when necessary. The system is considered particularly important on ghat sections with steep gradients.

The trials will be conducted by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO), with officials from the mechanical, electrical, operations and security departments participating.

Meanwhile, work is underway on a quick coach-watering facility at Subrahmanya Road railway station. Any extension of the proposed Vande Bharat service beyond Mangaluru, including towards Madgaon, will depend on a decision by the Railway Board.

The route was fully electrified in December 2025, paving the way for the proposed Vande Bharat service between Mangaluru and Bengaluru.