Madurai Junction–Bengaluru Cantonment Vande Bharat Express
| Madurai Junction - Bengaluru Cantonment Vande Bharat Express | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service type | Vande Bharat Express | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Tamil Nadu and Karnataka | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First service | 31 August 2024 (Inaugural) 02 September 2024 (Commercial) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current operator | Southern Railways (SR) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Route | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini | Madurai Junction (MDU) Bengaluru Cantonment (BNC) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stops | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance travelled | 573 km (356 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average journey time | 07 hrs 45 mins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service frequency | Six days a week [a] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Train number | 20671 / 20672 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line used | (TBC) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On-board services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classes | AC Chair Car, AC Executive Chair Car | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seating arrangements |
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| Sleeping arrangements | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Catering facilities | On board Catering | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Observation facilities | Large windows in all coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Entertainment facilities |
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| Baggage facilities | Overhead racks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other facilities | Kavach | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rolling stock | Mini Vande Bharat 2.0 (Last service: Sept 10 2025) Vande Bharat 2.0 (First service: Sept 11 2025) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | Indian gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification | 25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating speed | 74 km/h (46 mph) (Avg.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average length | 192 metres (630 ft) (08 coaches) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track owner | Indian Railways | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rake maintenance | Madurai Jn (MDU) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 20671/20672 Madurai Junction - Bengaluru Cantonment Vande Bharat Express is India's 53rd Vande Bharat Express train, connecting the Temple city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu with the Silicon City of Bangalore in Karnataka. This express train was initially slated to be inaugurated on 20 June 2024, but has been postponed due to administrative reasons. Later, it was inaugurated on 31 August 2024 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conferencing from New Delhi.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
History
During the trial run for this express, it was scheduled to take place on June 17, 2024, where it would depart from Madurai in the morning and terminate at SMVT Bengaluru in the afternoon. This trainset (Rake number 61) would depart from SMVT Bengaluru post noon and would reach Madurai in the night as Madurai SMVT Bangalore Vandebharat Express but during inaugural run and at regular commercial run, it has been provided a new destination at Bangalore Cantonment along with additional stoppage at Namakkal.[8]
Overview
This express train is operated by Indian Railways, connecting Madurai Junction, Dindigul Jn, Trichy Jn, Karur Jn, Namakkal, Salem Jn, Krishnarajapuram and Bengaluru Cantonment.[9] It is currently operated with train numbers 20671/20672 on 6 days a week basis.[10][11][12]
Rakes
It was the fifty-first 2nd Generation and thirty-fifth Mini Vande Bharat 2.0 Express train which was designed and manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory at Perambur, Chennai under the Make in India Initiative.[13]
Coach Augmentation
As of September 2025, this express train was augmented with 8 additional AC coaches and is currently running with Vande Bharat 2.0 trainset (formerly used by Mangaluru–Trivandrum VB train), in order to meet the surge in passenger demand on this popular route.[14][15][16][17][18]
Service
The 20671/20672 Madurai Jn - Bengaluru Cantt Vande Bharat Express operates six days a week except Tuesdays, covering a distance of 573 km (356 mi) in a travel time of 7 hours with an average speed of 74 km/h (46 mph). The service has 6 intermediate stops. The Maximum Permissible Speed is 130 km/h (81 mph).
See also
- Vande Bharat Express
- Tejas Express
- Gatimaan Express
- Madurai Junction railway station
- Bengaluru Cantonment railway station
Notes
- ^ Except Tuesdays
References
- ^ "PM Modi flags off three new Vande Bharat Express trains: Check route timing and stops". The Times of India. 31 August 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ "PM Modi flags off 3 Vande Bharat trains, check routes". English.Mathrubhumi. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ "மதுரை - பெங்களூரு, சென்னை எழும்பூர் - நாகர்கோவில் வந்தே பாரத் எக்ஸ்பிரஸ் ரயில் நேர அட்டவணை, டிக்கெட் கட்டணம் - முழு விவரம்". TimesNowTamil (in Tamil). 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ salah, Jibrael. "6170415-0: 1.Meerut to lucknow 2.Chennai to nagerc 20671/Madurai - Bengaluru Cantt. Vande Bharat Express - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Southern India to get two new Vande Bharat Express trains; Check details here". News9live. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ Anbuselvan, B. (30 August 2024). "PM Modi to flag off Chennai to Nagercoil Vande Bharat on August 31". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ Bureau, DTNEXT (30 August 2024). "PM Modi to flag off Chennai-Nagercoil, Madurai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat trains". www.dtnext.in. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Madurai–Bengaluru VB test run today". The Times of India. 17 June 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ SIVAPRAKASH. "6170217-0: 20671/20672 Madurai - Bengaluru Cant VB 20671/Madurai - Bengaluru Cantt. Vande Bharat Express - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Madurai – Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express to be launched by PM Modi soon; Details here". News9live. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ Bureau, N. T. (6 March 2024). "Madurai – Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express to be launched by PM". News Today | First with the news. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Bengaluru-Madurai Vande Bharat Express Timings, Routes, Ticket Fare". oneindia. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ "Train 18, India's Fastest, Named "Vande Bharat Express": Piyush Goyal". NDTV.com. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
- ^ "Madurai - Bengaluru Vande Bharat train via Tiruchi to run with 16 coaches from September 11". The Hindu. 9 September 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
- ^ "Madurai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat to run with 16 coaches". The Times of India. 10 September 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
- ^ Desk, Online (5 September 2025). "Madurai–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express train to run with 16 coaches from Sept 11". www.dtnext.in. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ WebDesk. "பயணிகளுக்கு குட் நியூஸ்! மதுரை- பெங்களூர் வந்தே பாரத் ரயிலில் கூடுதல் பெட்டிகள் இணைப்பு". tamil.indianexpress.com (in Tamil). Retrieved 11 September 2025.
- ^ தினத்தந்தி (5 September 2025). "மதுரை-பெங்களூரு வந்தே பாரத் ரெயிலில் பெட்டிகள் அதிகரிப்பு". www.dailythanthi.com (in Tamil). Retrieved 11 September 2025.