Bengaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat launch today: Onboard features and route details

The 16-coach Bengaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat will be launched today noon (November 13, Friday) by PM Narendra Modi during the inauguration of the Namma Metro Pink Link. Its regular commercial services will begin on November 15. The service is an extension and upgrade of the existing Mangaluru Central-Madgaon Vande Bharat (20645/20646) to Yeshwantpur in Bengaluru. The trains can accommodate 1,128 passengers. 

The train takes around 13 hours to complete its 670 km and would be the longest-duration Vande Bharat Chair car service. Due to its winding tracks and steep gradients, it will also be the slowest Vande Bharat of India, averaging 54 km/h. Railways says passengers will get scenic views of the Western Ghats' hills, forests, tunnels and the coastal Karnataka region of Udupi, Karwar, Gokarna and Murdeshwar. 

Today's inaugural train leaves SMVT Bengaluru at 1.30 pm and reaches Madgaon at 2.55 am. In the return direction, it departs at 1.30 pm and reaches Bengaluru at 9 pm. On regular days, starting from November 15, Sunday, the train will leave Yeshwantpur at 7.35 am and reach Madgaon at 8.55 pm, all days except Wednesdays. It will have a running time of 13 hours and 20 minutes. The Madgaon-Yeshwantpur train will leave Madgaon at 8.20 am and reach Yeshwantpur at 9.15 pm. Its running time is 12 hours and 55 minutes, and it won't be in service on Thursdays.  

Special onboard features
a) 180-degree revolving seats
b) Automatic sliding doors
c) Wi-fi infotainment with 32-inch screens
d) Bio-vacuum toilets
e) Upgraded reclining seats and extended footrests
f) Roller blinds for windows

Timetable and stops
Yesvantpur-Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat (26655): Operates on all days except Wednesday. The train will depart from Yesvantpur at 7.35 am and reach Madgaon at 8.55 pm.

Stops
Shravanabelagola: 9.03 am, Hassan: 9.38 am, Sakleshpur: 10.20 am, Subrahmanya Road: 12.40 pm, Kabakaputtur: 1.25 pm, Mangaluru Junction: 3.05 pm, Udupi: 4.20 pm, Kundapura: 4.38 pm, Mookambika Road Baindur: 5.20 pm, Murudeshwar: 6 pm, Gokarna Road: 7 pm, Karwar: 7.45 pm

Madgaon-Mangaluru-Yesvantpur Vande Bharat (26656): Operates on all days except Thursday. The train will depart from Madgaon at 8.20 am and reach Yesvantpur at 9.15 pm.

Stops
Karwar: 9.03 am, Gokarna Road: 9.48 am, Murudeshwar: 11 am, Mookambika Road Baindur: 11.20 am, Kundapura: 11.48 am, Udupi: 12.18 pm, Mangaluru Junction: 1.50 pm, Kabakaputtur: 2.43 pm, Subrahmanya Road: 3.28 pm, Sakleshpur: 5.30 pm, Hassan: 6.13 pm, Shravanabelagola: 6.43 pm