Top News

New Delhi: Indian Railways is further expanding its network of semi-high-speed services across the country. In the same direction it is reportedly going to launch four new Vande Bharat Express trains. The Ministry of Railways has released the schedule for the upcoming Bengaluru–Kochi Vande Bharat Express which is expected to begin operations soon reports news agency PTI. Three additional Vande Bharat trains will operate on the Firozpur Cantt–Delhi Varanasi–Khajuraho and Lucknow–Saharanpur routes a report by The Indian Express quoted a railway official as saying. While the Firozpur Cantt–Delhi Vande Bharat will connect several cities in Punjab to Delhi the Varanasi–Khajuraho train will connect the neighbouring states Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The Lucknow–Saharanpur Vande Bharat will connect the state capital to the northwest state. Speaking to The Indian Express a senior railway official said “Four new Vande Bharat trains have been notified.” The newly approved trains will operate across Karnataka Kerala Punjab Madhya Pradesh Uttar Pradesh and Delhi marking another phase in the government’s push for faster more comfortable rail travel. Bengaluru–Kochi Vande Bharat Express schedule According to a Railway Board notification issued on Friday October 31 train number 26651 KSR Bengaluru–Ernakulam Junction Vande Bharat Express will leave Bengaluru at 5.10 am and reach Ernakulam Junction at 1.50 pm reported PTI. The return service 26652 Ernakulam Junction–KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express will depart Ernakulam at 2.20 pm and arrive in Bengaluru at 11 pm. The train will halt at Krishnarajapuram Salem Erode Tiruppur Coimbatore Palakkad and Thrissur. Inaugural service and rollout The ministry has directed the Southern Railway and South-Western Railway zones to introduce the Bengaluru–Ernakulam service “at the earliest possible date.” “If required the inaugural train may be operated as a special service which shall pick up its respective link subsequently” the notification stated. Notably this will be the third Vande Bharat Express in Kerala following trains on the Thiruvananthapuram–Kasaragod and Thiruvananthapuram–Mangaluru routes.