B'luru-M'luru VB express inches closer with ghat stretch electrification

Time of India

20-05-2025

Mangaluru: Electrification of the critical Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road ghat section of the South Western Railway (SWR), Mysuru division, is expected to be completed by Oct, potentially bringing the proposed Bengaluru–Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express closer to reality.
However, railway officials said that the final decision to launch a Vande Bharat service rests with the govt and railway board.
Due to safety-related work and the ongoing electrification efforts on the Ghat section, one pair of trains per day (a total of three pairs weekly) has been cancelled from May 31 to Nov 2.
SWR Mysuru division divisional railway manager (DRM)
Mudit Mittal
told TOI that the entire stretch on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru section is electrified except for the 36 km from Donigal to Shiribagilu.
"This section is one of the most difficult, due to the lack of road access. We have to transport all materials by train," he said.
Although six day trains were cancelled overall, only one pair operates on this stretch each day. "All three affected train pairs have similar timings while traversing the ghat section. Hence, we have blocked one path to dedicate it entirely for the movement of material trains," Mittal said.
There are currently five pairs of passenger trains operating through the ghat section. Of these, four pairs run between Bengaluru and Mangaluru, and one pair connects Vijayapura and Mangaluru, the only train linking North Karnataka with the coastal region. Despite the cancellations, three pairs of passenger trains will continue to operate on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru route, ensuring minimal disruption, said DRM Mittal.
Explaining why freight trains were not considered for cancellation, Mittal said, "With the monsoon approaching, there are chances of roads being closed due to heavy rainfall. We did not want to divert freight movement, which is critical, so we reserved the cancelled passenger train slots for moving electrification equipment."
The ghat section has unique operational rules due to its steep terrain. Normally, railway routes are divided into small segments known as block sections.
However, in this ghat, two blocks are combined into one due to the terrain's complexity. Since it is a single-line section, a train must clear the entire stretch before another train can enter. During the work window, a four-hour block is scheduled daily. Material trains depart simultaneously from Shiribagilu and Donigal, taking about 1.5 hours to travel and another 1.5 hours to return.
One hour is allocated for unloading, he explained. Also, the maximum speed of any train in this ghat section is 30 kmph.
The electrification work will be carried out by Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES). DRM Mittal expressed confidence that the project will be completed within the targeted timeframe.