Vande Bharat for Chennai-Bengaluru-Mysuru route from November 10

BENGALURU/ CHENNAI: Passengers will be able to travel to Chennai and Mysuru in a new and modern train set as railways will be running a Vande Bharat train between Chennai-Bengaluru-Mysuru next month. The train will not be as fast as other Vande Bharat trains because of some limitations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to flag off the train from Bengaluru to Mysuru on November 10. This will be South India’s first Vande Bharat express and the rake will be maintained by Chennai-headquartered Southern Railways.

In fact, there was criticism on social media for not allocating the first four Vande Bharat trains to any of the southern states. This will be the first Vande Bharat train operating in Karnataka, where assembly elections are scheduled to be held shortly.
The new rake being manufactured will be ready by the end of the month. Southern Railway will decide the timing and also if it will act as an additional train on the route or be operated instead of Shatabdi express or Double Decker train.
Regular commuters, however, demand speed. The Mysuru-Bengaluru-Chennai Shatabdi express covers a distance of 497km in 7.15 hours and from Bengaluru to Chennai in 5.15 hours. While returning, the train takes 4.45 hours from Chennai to Bengaluru. Given the speed restrictions and other limitations, railways are likely to run the Vande Bharat train at an average speed of 80-85 kmph like any other train on the route.

A senior railway official said that the timing of the train and the launch of scheduled services between Chennai and Mysuru will be decided soon. The inaugural train will be a special service.
R Pandia Raja, a member of zonal rail users consultative committee, said that “The need is for speed. The new train is beneficial only if the average speed can be at least 95-100kmph otherwise it is just another new train.” “Ideally, Double Decker should be scrapped and Shatabdi should take that slot till Bangalore. DD is only a last-minute choice for travellers, never the first choice because of its seating and poor leg space. Brindavan Express chair car offers better seating and comfort,” said T Frank, a regular commuter on the route.
Railway Board is likely to allot more rakes to the zone in the coming months. South Western Railway is also looking at running Vande Bharat trains from Bengaluru to Hubballi, Coimbatore and Secunderabad. Vande Bharat trains, which can run at160-180kmph speed, are likely to be maintained at Sir MV terminal in Byappanahalli. Sources said Vande Bharat trains to Hubballi will be introduced next year after doubling and electrification work is completed. The train set does not need a locomotive and has better seating, lighting and offers better riding comfort than the existing trains including the premium Shatabdi express, the most sought after service on the route.
Sources said SWR is planning to increase the maximum permissible speed to 160kmph in KSR Bengaluru CityJolarpettai section from the existing 110kmph. Southern Railway is responsible for improving the speed on the remaining Jolarpettai-Chennai section. Trains can be run at an average speed of above 110-120kmph once tracks are strengthened to operate trains at 130-160kmph.