📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Heather Cowper
Travel
Vande Bharat Express to Link Bengaluru and Mumbai, Cutting Journey by 8 Hours
✍️ News18
🗓 21 Oct 2026, 12:46 AM
👁 12
The new Vande Bharat service, unveiled as a Rajyotsava gift, will slash the Bengaluru‑Mumbai travel time by eight hours, though Karnataka officials say more trains are needed.
The Karnataka government has introduced a Vande Bharat Express connecting Bengaluru and Mumbai, presenting it as a gift on Karnataka Rajyotsava. The premium train will operate on the existing corridor, offering a faster, more comfortable alternative to conventional services.
Current nonstop travel between the two metros takes roughly 24 hours. With the Vande Bharat’s higher speed and reduced halts, the journey is expected to be completed in about 16 hours, shaving eight hours off the previous schedule.
State officials welcomed the reduction but cautioned that a single daily service will not meet the growing demand. They have urged the rail ministry to allocate additional Vande Bharat rakes and increase frequency to fully capitalize on the connectivity boost.
If approved, the expanded service could spur business travel, tourism, and logistics between the tech hub of Bengaluru and the financial centre of Mumbai, further integrating the economies of Karnataka and Maharashtra.
The train is slated to commence operations later this year, pending final safety clearances and crew training.
Current nonstop travel between the two metros takes roughly 24 hours. With the Vande Bharat’s higher speed and reduced halts, the journey is expected to be completed in about 16 hours, shaving eight hours off the previous schedule.
State officials welcomed the reduction but cautioned that a single daily service will not meet the growing demand. They have urged the rail ministry to allocate additional Vande Bharat rakes and increase frequency to fully capitalize on the connectivity boost.
If approved, the expanded service could spur business travel, tourism, and logistics between the tech hub of Bengaluru and the financial centre of Mumbai, further integrating the economies of Karnataka and Maharashtra.
The train is slated to commence operations later this year, pending final safety clearances and crew training.