Bengaluru: Rail connectivity between Karnataka and Goa is set to improve as the Railway Board has approved a new Vande Bharat Express connecting Yesvantpur in Bengaluru with Madgaon in Goa via Mangaluru Junction. The service, approved on October 30, 2026, is expected to begin operations in the third week of November, although an official launch date has not yet been confirmed.
The new chair car train will operate six days a week, covering the Bengaluru-to-Goa journey in approximately 13 hours and 20 minutes. Train No. 26655 will depart Yesvantpur at 7:35 AM and reach Madgaon at 8:55 PM, except on Wednesdays. The return service, Train No. 26656, will leave Madgaon at 8:20 AM and arrive at Yesvantpur at 9:15 PM, except on Thursdays.
The route will include stops at Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabaka Puttur, Mangaluru Junction, Udupi, Kundapura, Mookambika Road Byndoor, Murdeshwar, Gokarna Road and Karwar. Passengers will also experience scenic views of the Western Ghats, particularly along the picturesque railway stretch between Sakleshpur and Subrahmanya Road.
The proposed service is expected to benefit tourists, business travellers and residents by providing direct daytime connectivity between Bengaluru, coastal Karnataka and Goa. Two Vande Bharat train sets will be deployed for the route, with maintenance arrangements at Yesvantpur and Madgaon.
Meanwhile, the Railway Board has approved the discontinuation of the existing Mangaluru Central-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express (20645/20646). Indian Railways has yet to announce the final inauguration date and ticket fares for the new service.
