Vande Bharat trial runs on Bengaluru-Mangaluru ghat section from August 11

The stage is set for the introduction of the Vande Bharat Express connecting Bengaluru with coastal Karnataka. South Western Railway's Mysuru Division will conduct trial runs on the Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road Ghat section from August 11, a senior official confirmed.

The trial was earlier planned for June, as announced by Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna, but could not take place because a Vande Bharat rake fitted with the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system was not available. The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai has now supplied a 20-car rake equipped with AEB to the Mysuru Division. The rake is currently stabled at Pandavapura Railway Station in Mandya district.

Trial runs will continue until August 22. A team from the Research, Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) of Indian Railways will arrive to conduct the runs, according to Divisional Railway Manager Mudit Mittal, who spoke to The Hindu on August 5, 2026.

The Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road Ghat section is known for its steep gradient of 1 in 50, meaning the track rises or drops one metre for every 50 metres. The Commissioner of Railway Safety has fixed a maximum speed limit of 30 kmph for all trains on this section. To assist trains on the incline, Indian Railways uses Banker Locos — additional engines fitted with AEB and preset to the 30 kmph speed limit — attached to the rear of normal trains at Sakleshpur and Subrahmanya Road. The attachment and detachment takes about 15 minutes.

For a Vande Bharat train, however, attaching a Banker Loco would require removing its aerodynamic nose, which is not practical. The nose would need to be carried in the rake and refitted, taking more time and defeating the purpose of a high-speed service. This is why the railways waited for a Vande Bharat rake with AEB, which can operate safely on the steep gradient without the need for a Banker Loco.

Once trial runs are successfully completed, the Vande Bharat Express is expected to begin commercial operations on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru route, significantly reducing travel time and offering a modern travel experience to passengers. The launch will be a major addition to rail connectivity between Karnataka's capital and the coastal region.