Vande Bharat Trial Begins on Challenging Sakleshpur Ghat Section

Field trials of a specially-modified Vande Bharat Express train commenced on August 12 on the Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road ghat section, a critical part of the Bengaluru-Mangaluru railway route. The custom-built rake, equipped with an automatic emergency braking (AEB) system, is undergoing rigorous testing to assess its performance on the steep gradient.

The trials are being conducted by the Mysuru division of South Western Railway and are expected to continue until August 20. The 20-car rake, manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, arrived in Mysuru last week. After static trials on August 11, it was moved to Sakleshpur the same night. Field tests began early on August 12 with officials from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) onboard, monitoring various parameters, according to Mysuru Divisional Railway Manager Mudit Mitral.

The Sakleshpur ghat section is known for its challenging terrain, with a steep gradient of 1 in 50, meaning the track rises or drops by one metre for every 50 metres. The Commissioner of Railway Safety has imposed a maximum speed limit of 30 kmph for all trains on this section. To assist trains in navigating this incline, the Railways deploys special banker locos — additional engines fitted with AEB and preset speed limits — attached to the rear of trains at Sakleshpur and Subrahmanya Road for the upward and downward journeys respectively. This attachment and detachment process typically takes about 15 minutes.

Standard Vande Bharat Express trains use an advanced electro-pneumatic (EP) assisted disc braking system combined with regenerative braking. While EP brakes respond rapidly through electric signals, regenerative braking feeds power back to overhead wires during deceleration. However, these trains are not initially equipped with AEB, which is essential for safe operation on the ghat section. Moreover, attaching a banker loco to a standard Vande Bharat train would require removing its aerodynamic nose, a cumbersome process that would defeat the high-speed train's purpose, according to a senior officer from the operations department.

To overcome this challenge, the Railways had been awaiting a Vande Bharat rake specifically fitted with AEB. The arrival of this customised rake marks a significant step towards introducing Vande Bharat service on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru route. Earlier, Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna had announced plans to launch the service by June, but the lack of an AEB-equipped rake delayed the project.

The successful completion of these trials will pave the way for regular Vande Bharat Express operations on this route, promising faster and more comfortable travel between Bengaluru and Mangaluru. The trial runs are being closely monitored, and the results will determine the train's operational feasibility on one of the most challenging sections of the Indian Railways network.