Speaking to the Indian Express, a senior official informed that the four new trains would go throughout several states, including Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and the national capital area. The announced routes are:
Bengaluru (KSR) – Ernakulam: It will improve the connection between Kerala and Karnataka.
Firozpur Cantonment – New Delhi: Connection between Punjab and Delhi.
Varanasi – Khajuraho: Strengthens the connections between Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Lucknow – Saharanpur: It improves connectivity in Uttar Pradesh and the northwest.
The Ministry of Railways has released the schedule for the upcoming Bengaluru–Kochi Vande Bharat Express, which is reportedly expected to commence service shortly.
The government is continuing its campaign for faster and more convenient train journeys with the newly approved trains, which will run across Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi.
Timings and Fare
The Bengaluru (KSR) – Ernakulam Vande Bharat service (Train 26651) is scheduled to leave KSR Bengaluru at 5:10 am and arrive in Ernakulam at 1:50 pm, according to one of the most detailed schedules. The 26652 return service is scheduled to depart Ernakulam at 2:20 pm and reach Bengaluru at 11:00 pm.
The train would stop in Thrissur, Palakkad, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Salem, Erode, and Krishnarajapuram, according to the Economic Times.
The service on the Firozpur Cantonment – Delhi line (Train 26462) is scheduled to depart Firozpur at 07:55 am and reach Delhi at 2:35 pm. The return journey (26461) will depart Delhi at 4 pm and reach Firozpur at 10:35 pm, as per the Indian Express.
Although the complete fare information for these particular trains is not yet available to the public, Vande Bharat services typically have different prices depending on the route and class. According to a general listing, depending on the class and route, full-length journey costs may range from ₹ 900 to ₹ 3,355.
Key Features
The Vande Bharat Express trains have been operating at over 100% on all routes, according to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
During the fiscal year 2024–2025, the Vande Bharat Express trains will have an overall occupancy rate of 102.01%. However, the passenger occupancy of these modern trains is 105.03% for the current fiscal year, or FY26 (until June 2025), as per the Indian Express.
The Vande Bharat train has features including automated doors, sealed gangways, and sophisticated safety systems in addition to faster operating speeds (design speed up to 180 km/h, regular operating speed about 160 km/h).
The additional services will improve connectivity in underserved corridors, such as those connecting regional centres and state capitals, which will shorten travel times and increase passenger convenience.
