Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express is two hours late during run time trial

South Western Railway is carrying out the run time trial of the Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express on September 5.

A 16-coach rake was deployed for the run time trial, which commenced in Yesvantpur in Bengaluru. The train was scheduled to reach Mangaluru Central, and was expected to commence the return journey on the same day.

Bengaluru Mangaluru Vande Bharat run time trial

The Vande Bharat Express arrives at Subrahmanya Road Station in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, during the run time trial from Yesvantpur in Bengaluru to Mangaluru Central on September 5, 2026. The 16-coach train was scheduled to reach Subrahmanya Road Station at 12 noon, but pulled in at 1.55 p.m.
| Video Credit:
The Hindu

During the run time trial, the Vande Bharat Express was scheduled to reach Subrahmanya Road Station, in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, at 12.35 PM, but pulled in as late as 1.55 p.m.

Tentatively, the train is expected to cover the distance from Bengaluru to Mangaluru in 8 hours and 20 minutes. The return journey is expected to take 8 hours.

In August, railway officials carried out trial runs on the Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road ghat section from August 12-20.

Drawing up a schedule for the train

Following successful completion of the trial run of Vande Bharat Express on the Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road Ghat section in August second week, the Railway Ministry ordered the timing trial of the VB Express between Bengaluru (Yesvantpur) and Mangaluru Central, on Saturday (September 5, 2026).

While the Ghat section trial was conducted using an automatic emergency brake (AEB)-fitted 20-car VB rake, the timing trial would be conducted using an AEB-fitted 16-car VB rake.

Tentative schedule

As per the schedule issued by the South Western Railway Headquarters (HQ) on Thursday (September 3, 2026), the VB Express would depart Yevantpur at 6.05 a.m. to arrive at Mangaluru Central at 2.25 p.m. (8.20 hours). En-route, it would depart Hassan at 9.05 a.m., Sakleshpur at 10 a.m. and Subrahmanya Road at 12.35 p.m.

In the return run, the trial rake would depart Central at 3 p.m. to reach Yesvantpur at 11 p.m. En-route, it would depart Subrahmanya road at 4.35 p.m., Sakleshpur at 6.35 p.m. and Hassan at 7.30 p.m.

Mudit Mittal, Divisional Railway Manager of Mysuru Division, told The Hindu that the run time trial is being carried out to assess the actual timing taken for the operation of the service. The route, timings, and halts, would be finalised by the Railway Ministry after receiving the results of the run time trial.