Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Travel Desk
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Ernakulam–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express on Saturday, marking another milestone in India’s expanding network of high-speed passenger trains. The Prime Minister inaugurated the service virtually from Varanasi, along with three other Vande Bharat trains — the Banaras–Khajuraho, Firozpur–Delhi, and Lucknow–Saharanpur routes.
The Ernakulam Junction–KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 06652) departed from Ernakulam at 8.41 a.m. amid a festive atmosphere, complete with flowers, balloons, and the traditional sounds of Chendamelam. Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Union Ministers of State Suresh Gopi and George Kurian, Kerala Industries Minister P. Rajeeve, MP Hibi Eden, MLA T.J. Vinod, and Kochi Mayor M. Anilkumar were among the dignitaries who participated in the event virtually.
In his address, Prime Minister Modi said that the Vande Bharat, Namo Bharat, and Amrit Bharat trains are shaping the future of Indian Railways, laying the foundation for a new era of speed, comfort, and innovation.
The new inter-State Vande Bharat Express will significantly enhance regional connectivity by linking key cities across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka — including Thrissur, Palakkad, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Krishnarajapuram, and KSR Bengaluru. The train will cover the journey in 8 hours and 40 minutes, saving over two hours compared to existing services.
Regular operations will begin on November 11, running six days a week, except Wednesday. The KSR Bengaluru–Ernakulam train (No. 26651) will depart Bengaluru at 5:10 a.m. and reach Ernakulam at 1:50 p.m. The return train (No. 26652) will leave Ernakulam at 2:20 p.m. and arrive in Bengaluru at 11 p.m.
Speaking onboard the inaugural service, Minister Suresh Gopi described the Vande Bharat as “a revolution on rails,” adding that further expansion depends on Kerala’s readiness to provide land for track doubling and straighten sharp curves. “If there are more tracks, more trains will come,” he said, highlighting the state’s crucial role in enabling faster train operations.
Children selected through a drawing competition and officials from various departments also joined the inaugural run, marking the event with celebrations and enthusiasm.
The Ernakulam–Bengaluru service becomes the third Vande Bharat for Kerala and the first inter-State connection linking the state with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. With its addition, the Southern Railway now operates 12 Vande Bharat trains, and the nationwide total has surpassed 160 operational services, reflecting India’s growing commitment to modern, high-speed rail travel.
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