Bengaluru Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express completes ghat trial runs successfully

The Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express has successfully completed a series of technical trial runs on the challenging 55-kilometer Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road ghat section. Conducted by the Mysuru Division of the South Western Railway, the trials took place over multiple dates, including August 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, and 20, 2026. The testing utilized a special 20-coach Vande Bharat rake manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. Experts from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation supervised the evaluations, monitoring critical parameters such as braking performance, speed control, and driving dynamics.

Trial Details and Safety Measures

Due to the steep gradients reaching up to 1:50, the Commissioner of Railway Safety has mandated a strict speed limit of 30 kmph for the train across the ghat section. The rake is equipped with an Automatic Emergency Brake system specifically configured to maintain this speed limit, as Vande Bharat rakes do not utilize traditional banker locomotives for steep ascents. Sakleshpur MLA Cement Manju attended the trial sessions and performed a ceremonial puja to mark the occasion. On August 23, 2026, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the successful completion of these tests by sharing a video on the platform X, which captured the Vande Bharat train navigating the misty terrain of the Western Ghats with the caption, "New age trains! Make more in India." While technical trials are now complete, commercial operations remain subject to final approvals and remaining regulatory formalities.