Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Aug 12: The proposed Vande Bharat Express service between Bengaluru and Mangaluru moved a step closer on Wednesday, with the train successfully completing a trial run through the challenging Sakleshpura Ghat section.

The Mysuru Division of South Western Railway conducted the trial between Sakleshpura and Subrahmanya Road railway stations, putting the orange-coloured Vande Bharat through technical tests on the steep gradients and demanding terrain of the ghat section.

At Sakleshpura railway station, MLA Cement Manju offered prayers and distributed sweets to the public to mark the trial run.

Instead of passengers, sandbags were loaded into the coaches to replicate passenger weight. The train was operated at prescribed speeds to assess its performance under loaded conditions, according to information available.

Multiple rounds of trials are being conducted at different speeds to assess the train’s technical capabilities and ensure safe operation on the ghat section. The speed is being increased gradually to determine the maximum operating speed at which the Vande Bharat can run safely and efficiently on the route.

The trial assumes significance amid the long-standing demand from railway passengers in the coastal region for a Vande Bharat service between Mangaluru and Bengaluru. A 20-coach Vande Bharat train equipped with automatic emergency braking technology has been brought from the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, for the trials.

The Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road Ghat section, marked by steep gradients and complex geographical conditions, presents a demanding test for the train. The trials are aimed at establishing its suitability for the route before passenger services are introduced and determining the safety and operational standards required for regular services.