Bengaluru: Travellers between Karnataka and Goa will soon have a new rail option, with Indian Railways approving a Vande Bharat Express service connecting Yesvantpur and Madgaon through Mangaluru. The Railway Board cleared the proposal on October 30, 2026, paving the way for a direct daytime train connecting Bengaluru with several important destinations along Karnataka’s coastal belt.
The new service will operate six days a week, with Train No. 26655 departing Yesvantpur at 7:35 AM and reaching Madgaon at 8:55 PM. The return service, Train No. 26656, will leave Madgaon at 8:20 AM and arrive in Bengaluru at 9:15 PM. The respective weekly non-operating days will be Wednesday and Thursday.
The train will serve several major stations, including Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Mangaluru Junction, Udupi, Kundapura, Murdeshwar, Gokarna Road and Karwar. One of the key attractions will be the journey through the Western Ghats, offering passengers views of forested hills, valleys and picturesque landscapes.
The introduction of the service is expected to strengthen tourism and improve connectivity for residents and business travellers across the region. Two Vande Bharat train sets will be deployed, with maintenance facilities arranged at Yesvantpur and Madgaon.
According to reports, the new train could begin operations in the third week of November 2026. However, the exact inauguration date and ticket fares are yet to be officially announced. Meanwhile, the Railway Board has approved the discontinuation of the existing Mangaluru Central-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express (20645/20646) as part of the revised railway operations.
