Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat on track: SWR | Bengaluru News
Bengaluru: The electrification of Sakleshpur–Subramanya Road ghats section has paved the way for smoother rail connectivity between Bengaluru and Mangaluru. South Western Railway (SWR) officials said a Vande Bharat Express on this scenic stretch is under serious consideration.While there were concerns initially on compatibility, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently clarified that the route is now Vande Bharat-ready.
Along with frequent travellers, politicians across parties campaigned for the train since the start of electrification works in 2023.Talks are on and since there is huge public demand, the railway board might consider it, said Manjunath Kanamadi, chief public relations officer, SWR.He added that although electrification will financially benefit the zone by avoiding locomotive attachments, traffic along the route cannot be increased significantly due to restrictions on the ghats section. The ghats cover 55km, and the railways term the terrain extremely complex, with no approach road to the railway track. Electrifying the area, which is highly prone to landslides especially during monsoon, was therefore a significant engineering challenge.With 57 tunnels, 226 bridges and 108 sharp curves, the railways took almost two years to complete the work, and during this period, several important services were disrupted, including Gomteshwara Express, which features a Vistadome coach with panoramic windows. The service resumed only in Dec 2025.Rail enthusiast Ansuman Sathapathy said, “I have travelled along this route multiple times. In the past, there was only one coach available to enjoy the scenic panoramic views. With the introduction of Vande Bharat, more people can travel along this route, making it a dream journey for any rail enthusiast.”
