Bengaluru: Railway passengers travelling between Bengaluru and Mangaluru may soon get a much-awaited Vande Bharat Express service, with the South Western Railway set to begin trial runs on the challenging Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road ghat section from August 11.

The trial will be conducted by the Mysuru Division of South Western Railway and is expected to continue until August 20, marking a significant step towards the launch of the semi-high-speed train on the coastal route.

The service, which was earlier expected to be introduced by June, had been delayed due to the unavailability of a Vande Bharat rake equipped with an Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system—a mandatory safety feature for operating on the steep gradients of the Western Ghats.

A 20-coach Vande Bharat train fitted with the AEB system has now been supplied by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, and is currently stationed at Pandavapura railway station in Mandya district.

Confirming the development, Mudit Mittal, Divisional Railway Manager of the Mysuru Division, said the trials will be carried out between August 11 and 20. A team from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) will oversee the testing process before the train is cleared for commercial operations.

Special Safety System for Ghat Section

The Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road stretch is one of the most challenging railway sections in Karnataka, featuring steep gradients that require enhanced braking and speed-control systems.

Although Vande Bharat trains are equipped with advanced electro-pneumatic disc brakes and regenerative braking technology, additional safeguards are necessary for operations through the ghat section.

Currently, trains passing through this stretch rely on banker engines—additional locomotives attached to assist movement on steep inclines and descents. Attaching and detaching these engines takes around 15 minutes, increasing travel time.

Using banker engines with the Vande Bharat train is also operationally difficult, as it requires removing the train’s aerodynamic nose cone before an additional locomotive can be coupled.

To address this challenge, Indian Railways has introduced a specially equipped Vande Bharat rake featuring an Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system. The technology automatically regulates the train’s speed, limiting it to 30 kmph while traversing the ghat section, eliminating the need for banker engines.

Commercial Service Expected After Approval

With the arrival of the AEB-equipped rake and the commencement of trial runs, the Railways is expected to seek final clearance from the Railway Board soon after the successful completion of testing.

Once approved, the Bengaluru–Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express is expected to become the first Vande Bharat service to operate through Karnataka’s challenging Western Ghats using the new safety technology, offering faster and more comfortable travel between the state capital and the coastal region.