SWR conducts runtime trial run of Vande Bharat Express between Yeshwantpur, Mangaluru
South Western Railway conducted a runtime trial run of a Vande Bharat Express between Yeshwantpur and Mangaluru to test the feasibility of electric traction on the route. The trial encountered technical glitches in the Ghat section, prompting officials to consider additional testing to ensure operational stability.
Why it matters
This trial represents a significant step toward modernizing rail connectivity between Bengaluru and coastal Karnataka by transitioning to fully electric train services.
The South Western Railway (SWR) conducted the runtime trial run of a Vande Bharat Express rake between Yeshwantpur in Bengaluru and Mangaluru Central ahead of the introduction of a regular service between the State capital and coastal Karnataka on Saturday, September 5.
Leaving Yeshwantpur at around 6.30 a.m. instead of the earlier announced 6.05 a.m., the train arrived at Mangaluru Central at 4.25 p.m., instead of 2.25 p.m. It left for Yeshwantpur at 4.46 p.m. instead of 3 p.m.
Also, the 2023-make 16-car Vande Bharat rake, fitted with an automatic emergency braking (AEB) system, became the first train-set to run on electric traction end-to-end. Though the Bengaluru-Mangaluru sector was completely electrified in December last year, the Railways was yet to operate trains on electric traction. All services between Bengaluru/Vijayapura and the coast have been running on diesel traction.
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