India
Railway Board Green‑Lights New Vande Bharat Service Between Yesvantpur and Madgaon
By Anish Mondal
The Railway Board approved the launch of a new Vande Bharat Express on the Yesvantpur–Madgaon route. The semi‑high‑speed train, built by BEML with technology from the Chennai‑based Integral Coach Factory, will enhance rail links between Karnataka and Goa. In a letter dated 30 October 2026, the Board notified the General Managers of South Western Railway, Southern Railway and the Konkan Railway that the Ministry of Railways had approved the 26655/26656 Yesvantpur–Madgaon Vande Bharat Express and that the existing 20645/20646 Madgaon–Mangaluru Central Vande Bharat Express would be discontinued.
The new service will run under numbers 26655 (Yesvantpur to Madgaon) and 26656 (Madgaon to Yesvantpur). Each journey covers the distance in about 13 hours and 20 minutes and passes through 12 stations: Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabaka Puttur, Mangaluru Junction, Udupi, Kundapura, Mookambika Road Byndoor, Murdeshwar, Gokarna Road and Karwar.
Train 26655 departs Yesvantpur at 07:35 and arrives in Madgaon at 20:55, operating six days a week except Wednesdays. Train 26656 leaves Madgaon at 08:20 and reaches Yesvantpur at 21:15, running six days a week except Thursdays.
The electrification of the Bengaluru–Mangaluru line, completed in December 2025 after work that began in December 2023, included five switching stations and a full overhead system with traction poles spaced 67.5 metres apart. The completed ghat section will allow Vande Bharat and other fast electric trains to run, offering quicker, cleaner and more reliable service to the coastal region. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw noted that the new electrification will enable Vande Bharat trains to operate through the route to Mangaluru.
Frequently asked questions
What are the train numbers for the new Vande Bharat Express on the Yesvantpur–Madgaon route?
The new service will run under numbers 26655 (Yesvantpur to Madgaon) and 26656 (Madgaon to Yesvantpur).
How long does the journey take and which stations does it pass through?
Each journey covers the distance in about 13 hours and 20 minutes and passes through 12 stations: Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabaka Puttur, Mangaluru Junction, Udupi, Kundapura, Mookambika Road Byndoor, Murdeshwar, Gokarna Road and Karwar.
When does the train depart from Yesvantpur and Madgaon?
Train 26655 departs Yesvantpur at 07:35 and arrives in Madgaon at 20:55, operating six days a week except Wednesdays. Train 26656 leaves Madgaon at 08:20 and reaches Yesvantpur at 21:15, running six days a week except Thursdays.