Bengaluru Goa Vande Bharat To Be India’s Longest-Duration Chair Car Service And Slowest In Its Category

The Bengaluru Goa Vande Bharat Express, running from Yesvantpur to Madgaon, is about to be one of the newest entries to the Vande Bharat fleet in India. Many are excited for the launch of this train service and even before the launch, the train service has garnered attention for two distinctions. Firstly, the train service will be the longest-duration Vande Bharat chair car service. Secondly, it will also be the slowest among all the Vande Bharat trains, with average speeds capped at 53 to 54 kmph. 

About The New Bengaluru Goa Vande Bharat Express

The Bengaluru Goa Vande Bharat Express is likely to be flagged off in November 2026. The much-anticipated Vande Bharat train will operate between Yesvantpur, Bengaluru and Madgaon, Goa. The train will connect 12 major stations along the way, including famous tourist destinations like Mangaluru, Udupi, and Gokarna. A major highlight of the new Bengaluru Goa Vande Bharat train is reportedly said to be the Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road stretch known for its spectacular view of hills, forests, and lush valleys.

Here is the train schedule for Bengaluru Goa Vande Bharat express:

Train number 26655: Yesvantpur to Madgaon

• Departure: 7:35 AM
• Arrival: 8:55 PM
• Travel time: 13 hours and 20 minutes
• Runs every day except Wednesday

Train number 26656: Madgaon to Yesvantpur 

• Departure: 8:20 AM
• Arrival: 9:15 PM
• Travel time: 12 hours and 55 minutes
• Runs every day except Wednesday

Also Read: Udupi Reimagined: Viewing My Hometown Through A Different Lens

The Longest-Duration Chair Car Service And Slowest Vande Bharat Service

The Bengaluru Goa Vande Bharat Express will have the distinction of being the longest-duration Vande Bharat chair car service among the 82 pairs of such train services in India. It will take about 12.20 hours from Yesvantpur in Bengaluru to Madgaon and 12.55 hours from Madgaon to Yesvantpur.

The train service wouldn’t just hold that distinction – it would also be the slowest among all the Vande Bharat services across India. The Bengaluru Goa Vande Bharat will have an average speed of 54 kmph and 53 kmph in the down and up directions, respectively.

Currently, the Delhi Varanasi Vande Bharat is the fastest Vande Bharat train service, with an average speed of 95 kmph and taking only 8 hours to traverse 759 km in both directions.

The Yesvantpur-Madgaon Bengaluru Goa Vande Bharat Express will be slower than a superfast express train and be on par with ordinary mail / express services.

Also Read: Indian Railways Add Emergency Quota In Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, Here's What You Must Know

Why The Bengaluru Goa Vande Bharat Express Would Be The Slowest In Its Category

The train service will have a good amount of slack time between Bengaluru and Mangaluru Junction and between Mangaluru Junction and Madgaon. However, technical constraints will prevent the train service from speeding up the service significantly. 

Almost the entire stretch, except about 16 km between Mangaluru and Thokur and about 8 km between Yesvantpur and Chikkabanavara, is a single-line network requiring frequent train crossings. The other constraint is the 50-km Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road Ghat section. Though it is one of the prettiest stretches in the train journey, all trains are to be operated at a maximum speed of 30 kmph.

Also Read: 9 Scenic Vande Bharat Routes With The Best Views

Summing Up

The Bengaluru-Goa Vande Bharat Express is set to enter service in November 2026. Before its launch, the train service has earned two distinctions – of being the longest-duration chair car service as well as of being the slowest train in its category. Despite these distinctions, the train service will promise a convenient and comfortable way of traveling between Goa and Karnataka, connecting major cities like Bengaluru, Mangaluru, and Madgaon in Goa.