Puttur, 13 August 2026: Southwestern Railway's Mysuru Division on Wednesday began field trials of a Vande Bharat Express rake fitted with an automatic emergency braking system on the challenging Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road Ghat section.
The trials are an important step in assessing whether the semi-high-speed train can safely operate on the proposed Bengaluru–Mangaluru route through the Western Ghats. Railway officials said the 20-coach Vande Bharat rake, specially manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, arrived in Mysuru last week. After static technical tests were conducted in Mysuru on Tuesday, the train was moved to Sakleshpur the same night for field trials.
Talking to media, Mysuru Divisional Railway Manager Mudit Mittal said personnel from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) were on board during the tests to study various technical and operational aspects.
Testing on a Difficult Railway Section
The Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road stretch is considered one of the most demanding sections of the Bengaluru–Mangaluru railway line.
The route passes through the Western Ghats and includes steep gradients, sharp curves, tunnels and bridges. These conditions make braking, acceleration and train stability especially important for safe operations.
Railway officials said the trials will continue for several days to evaluate:
- Braking performance on steep gradients
- Acceleration
- Stability
- Safe movement through curves and tunnels
- Performance of the automatic emergency braking system
Could Lead to Bengaluru–Mangaluru Vande Bharat
Officials said successful completion of the trials, followed by the required safety clearances, could pave the way for the introduction of a Vande Bharat Express service between Bengaluru and Mangaluru.
The Bengaluru–Mangaluru railway line is an important connection between Karnataka's capital and the coastal region. The route, which was originally built as a metre-gauge line before being converted to broad gauge, carries both passenger and freight trains.
If approved, the Vande Bharat service is expected to reduce travel time between Bengaluru and Mangaluru and improve connectivity for passengers travelling to towns along the route.
Railway officials clarified that the current exercise is only to establish the train's suitability for operating on the Ghat section. A decision on starting regular Vande Bharat services will be taken only after the trials are successfully completed and all necessary safety approvals are obtained.
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