India’s Slowest Vande Bharat? Why Bengaluru-Goa Train To Take Nearly 13 Hours

Indian Railways continues to expand its Vande Bharat network, offering passengers faster and more comfortable travel options across the country. However, the upcoming Vande Bharat service between Bengaluru and Goa is set to stand out for an unusual reason. The train, which will connect Yesvantpur in Bengaluru with Madgaon in Goa, is expected to become the slowest Vande Bharat Chair Car service in India. Want to know why? Read on!\

Why Will Bengaluru-Goa Be The Slowest Vande Bharat

The train will cover the distance at an average speed of around 53–54 kmph, taking approximately 12 hours and 20 minutes to travel from Yesvantpur to Madgaon. The return journey is expected to take even longer, at around 12 hours and 55 minutes. According to The Hindu, the Vande Bharat service between Varanasi and New Delhi is currently among the fastest in the country. It covers 759 km in approximately eight hours, at an average speed of 95 kmph. The Chennai–Egmore–Nagercoil service follows with an average speed of around 82–83 kmph.

Several other Vande Bharat services also operate at considerably higher average speeds than the proposed Bengaluru-Goa train. The Secunderabad–Visakhapatnam service runs at an average speed of around 79 kmph, while the Chennai Central–Narasapura route operates at approximately 75.73 kmph. The Pune–Ajni (Nagpur) service has an average speed of around 73 kmph.

Other routes include Nanded–Mumbai CSMT, which records average speeds ranging from 65 to 68 kmph depending on the direction, and Varanasi–Meerut, which operates at around 66 kmph. At an average speed of 53–54 kmph, the Bengaluru-Goa service will be slower than several existing Vande Bharat routes and will take longer to complete its journey.

Also Read: Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Train To Launch On Nov 1; Check Timings, Route & Stoppages

All About Bengaluru-Goa Vande Bharat Train

The extended travel time is largely linked to track conditions along the route. A significant portion of the railway line between Mangaluru Junction and Madgaon is single-track. This means trains travelling in opposite directions may have to wait at designated points to allow each other to pass. On certain sections, the permitted maximum speed is reportedly restricted to 30 kmph, affecting the overall journey time.

Interestingly, the proposed Vande Bharat service will also have an average speed comparable to that of regular Mail and Express trains, which generally operate at around 50–54 kmph. Under Indian Railways’ classification, trains with an average speed of more than 55 kmph are categorised as Superfast Express services.

Also Read: Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains To Get More Coaches? Indian Railways Plans 24-Coach Train Sets

This makes the upcoming Bengaluru-Goa Vande Bharat unusual among the country’s premium semi-high-speed trains, with its journey duration reflecting the infrastructure limitations along the route.

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Tanvi Shrivastava | Sub-Editor

Tanvi Nalin Shrivastava is a Sub-Editor at Curly Tales with 5 years of experience in digital journalism and content creation, with expertise spanning beauty, food, travel, fashion and entertainment. She holds a Master’s degree in Communication and Journalism from the University of Mumbai. When she’s not working, you’ll probably find her reading, talking to the camera or just binge-watching rom-coms.