Travellers to Bengaluru were informed by a Southern Railway official that there would be an additional premium chair car train option between Chennai and Mysuru via Bengaluru, set to be launched next week as part of the Vande Bharat series. According to the official, the train, expected to commence its operation from Chennai on March 12, will run six days a week, excluding Wednesdays. It was mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anticipated to inaugurate the train and other services through a video conference.
The new addition means there will be a morning and evening Vande Bharat train from Chennai. The train, adorned in orange and grey livery, will travel via Bengaluru and make a stop at the new SMVT railway station in Baiyyappanahalli instead of the KSR Bengaluru city railway station. Departing from Chennai Central at 5 pm, it is scheduled to reach SMVT Bengaluru at 9.25 pm and Mysuru at 11.20 pm. In the opposite direction, the train will leave Mysuru at 6 am, arriving at SMVT Bengaluru at 7.45 am, and concluding the journey at Chennai Central by 12.20 pm.
The train is set to make stops at Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Krishnarajapuram, SMVT Bengaluru, and Mandya. Notably, this will mark the second Vande Bharat train on the Chennai-Bengaluru-Mysuru route and the third premium train on the same route. Following the launch of the new train, passengers will have access to four premium trains on the Chennai-Bengaluru route. However, it was mentioned that the travel time for the new train will remain the same as the existing Vande Bharat service between Chennai and Bengaluru, at 4.25 hours. Commuters who frequently use these services have been urging the railways to enhance speed and reduce travel time.
