PM Modi and Railway Minister likely to flag off Bengaluru–Mangaluru–Goa Vande Bharat Express on November 13

Extended services of Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express as Yeshwantpur-Madgaon-Yeshwantpur VB Express via Mangaluru Junction are likely to be launched on November 13 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Bengaluru and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw from Mangaluru. | Photo Credit: ANIL KUMAR SASTRY Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw are likely to flag off the Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru-Madgaon-Yeshwantpur Vande Bharat Express on November 13 from Bengaluru and Mangaluru Junction simultaneously.Mr. Modi will be in Bengaluru to dedicate the 7.5 km Namma Metro Pink Line between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere along the Bannerghatta Road, as announced earlier by Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda. During this occasion, the Prime Minister will also remotely flag off the Bengaluru-Goa Vande Bharat Express starting from Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal, Bengaluru, sources in the South Western Railway (SWR) told The Hindu.Mr. Vaishnaw, as promised to Members of Parliament from the coast, would launch the new service from Mangaluru Junction at around 2.30 p.m., sources said. Both the down and up inaugural specials would run simultaneously towards Bengaluru and Mangaluru. Regular services of the VB Express could start within a day or two, sources said adding regular services would operate out of Yeshwantpur; and not SMVTB.The Railway Minister had, on September 29, announced that the Ministry would introduce Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru-Madgaon-Yeshwantpur Vande Bharat Express as Train No. 26655/656 by extending the existing Mangaluru Central-Madgaon-Mangaluru Central VB Express (Train No. 20646/645). Releasing the timetable of the extended service on October 30, the Ministry had said the services would start at an early convenient date or ‘no booking’ date for Mangaluru-Madgaon-Mangaluru VB.12 haltsThe Bengaluru-Madgaon VB Express would have 12 halts, excluding the originating and terminating stations. They are, Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabaka Puttur, Mangaluru Junction, Udupi, Kundapura, Byndoor, Murdeshwar, Gokarna Road and Karwar.While the Yeshwantpur-Madgaon service leaves Yeshwantpur at 7.35 a.m. to reach Madgaon at 8.55 p.m. taking 12.20 hours except on Wednesdays, the Madgaon-Yeshwantpur service departs Madgaon at 8.20 a.m. to reach Yeshwantpur at 9.15 p.m. taking 13 hours except on Thursdays.Two rakes required for the service are kept ready, sources added. Published - November 10, 2026 01:25 pm IST