Indian Railways Plans Mumbai-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Service

Indian Railways Plans Mumbai-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Service

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, March 23, 2025: Indian Railways is planning to introduce a direct Vande Bharat train service connecting Mumbai and Mangaluru by merging the existing Mumbai-Goa and Mangaluru-Goa routes. This initiative aims to enhance efficiency and boost passenger occupancy, offering travellers a 12-hour journey between Mumbai and Mangaluru.

The Mumbai-Goa Vande Bharat service initially recorded a high occupancy rate of 90%, which has now declined to about 70%. Similarly, the Mangaluru-Goa service operates with an average passenger occupancy of 70%. Indian Railways believes that combining these routes into a single Mumbai-Mangaluru service will help achieve full capacity, as trains running between these cities and those extending to Kerala often report 100% occupancy.

As per the proposed schedule, the Mumbai-Goa Vande Bharat, which currently departs Mumbai at 5:25 am and reaches Goa at 1:10 pm, will continue to Mangaluru, arriving by 6:00 pm. Likewise, the Mangaluru-Goa service, departing at 8:30 am and reaching Goa at 1:10 pm, would extend to Mumbai, arriving by 9:00 pm.

However, platform congestion at Mumbai during the evening hours may pose scheduling challenges. With several long-distance trains arriving around 9:00 pm, the Central Railways has indicated that adjustments to the Mumbai-Mangaluru Vande Bharat timetable may be required to ensure smooth operations.