Vande Bharat Express trial runs begin on the Sakleshpur ghat section. Field trials of a custom-modified Vande Bharat Express rake installed with an Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system started on the Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road ghat section on August 12. Read on to know more.
Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Trial Run Begins
As per a report by The Hindu, the trials are being carried out by the Mysuru division of South Western Railway and are planned to continue until August 20. Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) personnel are onboard to evaluate various parameters during the testing.
The custom-built 20-car Vande Bharat rake was delivered in Mysuru from Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, last week. Following static trials conducted in Mysuru on August 11, the rake was moved to Sakleshpur the same night. Field trials began early on August 12.
According to Mysuru DRM Mudit Mitral, the testing is planned to continue through the afternoon. Successful completion of the trials could clear the way for the launch of a Vande Bharat Express service on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru route.
The proposed service had earlier been expected to begin by June, as stated by Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna. However, the launch was postponed as a Vande Bharat rake equipped with an Automatic Emergency Braking system was not available.
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Discussion On The Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Service
There has also been discussion over the proposed route of the Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat service. One proposed schedule proposes that the train could operate from Yesvantpur in Bengaluru to Madgaon in Goa, covering more than 700 km.
Under the proposal, the train could halt at Padil in Mangaluru while skipping Mangaluru Junction and Mangaluru Central. However, the railways have not officially approved this route or schedule. The Indian Railways is expected to announce the final route, schedule and frequency of the proposed Vande Bharat service in the coming days.
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Additionally, the Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road section has a steep gradient of 1 in 50, meaning the track rises or falls by one metre for every 50 metres. Due to the challenging terrain, the Commissioner of Railway Safety has prescribed a maximum speed of 30 kmph for trains operating on the section.
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FAQs
Is there any Vande Bharat between Bangalore and Mangalore?
No, there is no operational Vande Bharat Express between Bangalore and Mangalore yet.