Bengaluru Gets Another Vande Bharat Express as PM Modi Inaugurates New Service
On Saturday, August 31, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched three new Vande Bharat Express trains, significantly improving connectivity in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, as per the railway ministry. These new additions expand the already extensive Vande Bharat network, which now features over 100 trains serving more than 280 districts nationwide.
Chennai Central to Nagercoil Vande Bharat Express
This newly introduced service will initially depart from Chennai Central before shifting to its regular schedule from Chennai Egmore. Operating daily except on Wednesdays, this train will benefit pilgrims visiting sacred sites such as the Arulmigu Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai and the Kumari Amman Temple in Kanniyakumari. Train No. 20627 is scheduled to leave Chennai Egmore at 5:00 AM, arriving in Nagercoil at 1:50 PM, with stops at Tambaram, Villupuram, Tiruchirappalli, Dindigul, Madurai, Kovilpatti, and Tirunelveli. For the return journey, Train No. 20628 will depart Nagercoil at 2:20 PM and reach Chennai by 11:00 PM.
Madurai to Bengaluru Cantonment Vande Bharat Express
Linking the historic temple city of Madurai with Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, this Vande Bharat train will operate six days a week, with no service on Tuesdays. Train No. 20671 will depart from Madurai at 5:15 AM and reach Bengaluru Cantonment at 1:00 PM, making stops at Dindigul, Tiruchirappalli, Karur, Namakkal, Salem, and Krishnarajapuram. The return trip on Train No. 20672 will leave Bengaluru at 1:30 PM, arriving in Madurai by 9:45 PM.
Meerut City to Lucknow Vande Bharat Express
This train will commence its regular service from Lucknow on Sundays and from Meerut on Mondays, running six days a week except Tuesdays. The service is expected to boost religious tourism by offering quicker travel to pilgrimage sites such as the Digambar Jain Temple, Mansa Devi Mandir, Surajkund Temple, and Augharnath Temple. Train No. 22490 will depart Meerut City at 6:35 AM, arriving at Lucknow’s Charbagh Railway Station by 1:45 PM, with stops at Moradabad and Bareilly. The return service, Train No. 22489, will leave Charbagh Railway Station at 2:45 PM and arrive back in Meerut City at 10:00 PM.
