Vande Bharat Express train travels from Sakleshpur to Subrahmanya Road in first trial run on ghat section of Bengaluru-Mangaluru route

A custom-made 20-coach Vande Bharat rake with automatic emergency brake (AEB) system traverses the Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road ghat section of South Western Railway’s Mysuru division during the first trial run on August 12, 2026. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT The first trial run of a Vande Bharat rake fitted with automatic emergency brake (AEB) system was carried out on the Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road ghat section of the Hassan-Mangaluru line on August 12 as a prelude to the introduction of VB Express service on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru sector.The trials are being conducted by the Mysuru division of South Western Railway (SWR).The trial run commenced from Sakleshpur Railway Station at 6.42 am. The train reached Subrahmanya Road station at 10.55 am, Mysuru Divisional Railway Manager Mudit Mittal told The Hindu. The rake was expected to climb the ghat towards Sakleshpur in the afternoon with the process to be repeated till August 20.Successful completion of the field trials would pave the way for introduction of a Vande Bharat Express train on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru sector that is expected to connect the State capital to coastal Karnataka. The custom-made 20-car Vande Bharat rake with automatic emergency brake (AEB) system set to commence the first trial on the Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road ghat section, from Sakleshpur Railway Station in Hassan district, on August 12, 2026. | Photo Credit: SPCIAL ARRANGEMENT Speed limit is crucial to safe travel on ghat sectionA team of experts from the Research, Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) of the Railway Ministry has been conducting various trials, including balancing speed, controllability and emergency braking distance with particular focus on the working of the AEB. The AEB has been preset to 30 kmph, and would be activated when the rake traverses through the 55-km ghat stretch.The speed limit was mandated by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) while issuing authorisation to operate trains in the section in view of the steep gradient of 1 in 50 (meaning the track rises or drops by one metre for every 50 metres of horizontal distance).The custom-built 20-car rake had arrived in Mysuru last week from Integral Coach Factory, Chennai. After a few static trials at Mysuru on August 11, the rake was brought to Sakleshpur the same night. Field trials would be conducted on the ghat section on August 13, and from August 17 to 19, according to officials.During the trial period, day trains between Bengaluru and Mangaluru Junction and Karwar would be regulated for up to 30 minutes. The custom-made 20-car Vande Bharat rake with automatic emergency brake (AEB) system runs on the Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road ghat section during the first trial run on August 12, 2026. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Banker locosAuthorities have kept a few banker locomotives with pre-set AEB of 30 kmph for conventional rakes hauled by diesel and electric engines. During the descent or ascent on the ghat section by passenger and freight trains, these banker locos are attached to the rakes, thereby controlling the speed at 30 kmph.As banker locos cannot be attached to a Vande Bharat train for technical and aesthetic reasons, a new rake was modified while being manufactured at ICF, Chennai. Published - August 12, 2026 01:48 pm IST