Madgaon - Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express train extended till Bengaluru, begins regular services from 15 November 2026
The very first Vande Bharat Express between Bengaluru and Mangaluru, as well as between Bengaluru and Madgaon in Goa, begins its regular runs from today, 15 November 2026. Here's the details.
The Madgaon - Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express (Train No.s 20645/20646) are now extended till Bengaluru's Yesvantpur Junction railway station. These trains now run with new train numbers 26655/26656 as the Yesvantpur - Madgaon Vande Bharat Express, via Mangaluru Junction.
The inaugural special run of this Vande Bharat Express train was on 13 November 2026. It's regular services begin from 15 November 2026 from both Madgaon in Goa and Yesvantpur in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Yesvantpur - Mangaluru - Madgaon Vande Bharat Express is a fully AC day train that has 16 coaches, which contain AC Chair cars (CC) and Executive Chair Cars (EC). It operates 6 days a week as follows:
- Train No. 26655 Yesvantpur to Madgaon on every day except Wednesdays. Starts from Yesvantpur Jn at 07:35 (07:35 AM), arrival Mangaluru Junction at 15:05 (03:05 PM) and leaves at 15:15 (03:15 PM) and arrival at Madgaon at 20:55 (08:55 PM) on the same day.
- Train No. 26656 Madgaon to Yesvantpur on every day except Thursdays. Starts from Madgaon at 08:20 (08:20 AM), arrival at Mangaluru Junction at 13:50 (01:50 PM) and leaves at 14:00 (02:00 PM), and arrival at Yesvantpur Jn at 21:15 (09:15 PM) on the same day.
This Vande Bharat Express has stops at the following railway stations on both ways: Yesvantpur Junction, Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabaka-Puttur, Mangaluru Junction, Udupi, Kundapura, Mookambika Road Byndoor, Murudeshwar, Gokarna Road, Karwar, and Madgaon.
Just looking at the above list of stops, you can see that this Vande Bharat Express connects several important heritage, tourism, beach, and pilgrimage destinations between Bengaluru, Coastal Karnataka, and Goa.
While the Madgaon to Mangaluru section is itself picturesque with nature and several rivers flowing across, the especially splendid Western Ghats section between Subrahmanya Road and Sakaleshpur that is situated between Bengaluru and Mangaluru, is especially worth travelling through during the day.
And this very first Vande Bharat train through this route is a "day train" that passes through this Western Ghats section between Subrahmanya Road and Sakaleshpur during the sunlit day time.
As per current timings, when moving either way, these trains will pass through the splendid Western Ghats section during the day time when the sun is shining, giving you a clear look at the magnificent mountain range as you pass through its mountainsides.
As per its current timings, when going from Bengaluru towards Mangaluru or Madgaon, it crosses this section between 10:20 AM and 12:40 PM in the morning. While going from Madgaon or Mangaluru towards Bengaluru, it crosses this section in the afternoon between 03:30 PM and 05:30 PM.
Note that the timings and availability may be subject to change in the future and check the official IRCTC website for its actual timings or availability.
Indian Railways completed the electrification of the Sakleshpur–Subramanya Road section, which is one of the toughest ghat section routes on their railway network that runs through the splendid Western Ghats mountain range that is a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned as a global biodiversity hotspot.
With the completion of the electrification between Sakleshpur and Subramanya Road back in December 2025 last year, the Bengaluru-Mangaluru rail route is now fully electrified, this popular railway route is able to run the fully electric Vande Bharat Trains through it between Bangalore and Mangalore.
The trial run of Vande Bharat Express between Mangaluru and Bengaluru along the challenging Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road Western Ghats section was completed in August 2026.
The Railways Minister, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, back in April 25, 2026, had said that a Vande Bharat train service from Bengaluru to Mangaluru, and further all the way to Madgaon, was being planned. However, instead of introducing a new Vande Bharat Express on this route, they've extended the existing Vande Bharat train between Madgaon and Mangaluru till Bengaluru.
Anyway, the 20645/20646 Yesvantpur Jn. - Mangaluru Jn. - Madgaon Vande Bharat Express is the very first Vande Bharat train between the picturesque route between Mangaluru and Bengaluru, as well as between Bengaluru and Goa.
We had travelled through the splendid route between Bengaluru and Mangaluru some years ago on a day train. We had also travelled along the picturesque route between Mangaluru and Goa.
While we had travelled in the old ICF coaches back then, you are now able to enjoy travelling through this splendid route in a modern comfortable train like the Vande Bharat Express and also in a Vistadome tourist coach in available trains. You may check the official IRCTC website or their Rail One app for availability, timings, or for booking.
- Bengaluru to Mangaluru by Train via Splendid Western Ghats
A 413 kilometres railway journey between Bangalore and Mangalore through the splendidly scenic Sahyadri mountain range section in Karnataka. Read More → - All about Vande Bharat Express trains
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- Post by South Western Railway @SWRRLY on X. 7:11 PM - Nov 11, 2026.