South’s first Vande Bharat Express slowest in India
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South’s first Vande Bharat Express slowest in India

November 3, 2022
  • Speed restrictions because of the many gradients and curves, clarify officers 
  •  Gap between Shatabdi Express and Vande Bharat Express too short, say commuters 

Mysore/Mysuru: The Vande Bharat Express that has a maximum speed of 160-180 kilometres per hour will only run at a speed of 75.60 to 77.53 km per hour on the Mysuru-Chennai route via Bengaluru, only a wee bit faster than the Shatabdi Express that is running at present between the three cities. 

While the existing Shatabdi Express between Mysuru and Chennai takes over 7 hours 15 minutes to commute between the two cities via Bengaluru, the brand-new Vande Bharat Express, a semi-high-speed train, takes 6 hours 40 minutes to cover the same distance, a difference of 35 minutes. 

“It is almost the same without much difference. Going by the hype created around the Vande Bharat Express and its speed, it should have cut down the travel time further. The train has a maximum speed of 160-180 kilometres per hour. Then I wonder why the train is running at an average speed of 75.60 km per hour to 77.53 km per hour,” questioned businessman Rajeev, who is a regular commuter between the two cities. 

Sources from the South Western Railways, however, told Star of Mysore that there are many restrictions on speed due to various reasons and as such, South India’s first Vande Bharat Express will be the slowest in the country.

 “There are speed restrictions because of the gradients and curves and they are a real challenge to enhance the speed levels at the 165 km per hour range. Running at a high speed is risky and will endanger the safety of the passengers and a conscious decision has been taken to restrict the speed of Vande Bharat Express from 75.60 to 77.53 km per hour,” an officer said on condition of anonymity. 

The speed of New Delhi to Varanasi Vande Bharat Express is 95 km per hour, New Delhi to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra in Jammu & Kashmir is 82 km per hour, Mumbai Central to Gandhinagar is 84 km per hour and the Vande Bharat Express speed between New Delhi and Amb Andaura in Himachal Pradesh is 79 km per hour.  

Though certain engineering works can be taken up for the locomotives to negotiate these curves without getting toppled at high speeds, straightening all the curves is not financially feasible as it entails acquiring extra land, rehabilitating people and rebuilding bridges and level crossings at different points. “This needs a huge investment of hundreds of crores of rupees and time,” the officer added. 

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Gap too short say commuters  

Also, many commuters have questioned the too short gap between Vande Bharat Express and Shatabdi Express. While the Vande Bharat Express will leave Chennai at 5.50 am, the Shatabdi Express leaves Chennai at 6 am. 

“Every morning we already have a Shatabdi from Bengaluru and we can reach Mysuru by 1 pm. Now Vande Bharat Express also runs in the same schedule with a short gap and reaches Mysuru at 12.30 pm. This would have been a big benefit if the Vande Bharat Express would have started late in the afternoon or early evening. What is the use of two high-speed trains that run at the same time and return also almost at the same time,” questioned Suraj Venugopalrao in Star of Mysore Facebook page. 

“Did not understand the schedule. Why do we have two trains starting from Chennai in the morning? One could have started from Mysuru and other from Chennai,” said Neeraj Vyas. 

“It would be better if they work on rescheduling either Shatabdi Express or Vande Bharat Express. They can run these superfast premium trains one in the morning and one in the evening. Running in a gap of 30 minutes to one hour to the same destination makes no sense,” said Adithya Jagannath. 

Total time taken 

The Chennai Central-Bengaluru-Mysuru Vande Bharat Express’ travel time will be six hours and 40 minutes while the Mysuru-Bengaluru-Chennai Vande Bharat Express will take only six hours and 30 minutes. 

The total time taken by Mysuru-Bengaluru-Chennai Shatabdi Express is seven hours and 15 minutes. On the return route Chennai Central-Bengaluru-Mysuru Shatabdi Express takes 7 hours. 

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The Vande Bharat Express will run six days a week (except Wednesdays) The railways is not planning to replace Shatabdi Express for now. It will run six days a week except on Tuesdays. At present, Shatabdi is not running on Wednesdays. 

Adjustments will be made 

“Most of the track between Bengaluru and Chennai are straight and as such, the Vande Bharat Express will travel faster. However, there are many steep curves between Mysuru and Bengaluru and this will curtail the speed. The train is yet to start and the timings that have been decided now are that of the initial stages. Once the actual operations start, the timings, time table, stoppages will be decided after matching with other trains.” – Pratap Simha, Mysuru-Kodagu MP

Vande Bharat Express

From Chennai to Mysuru via Bengaluru

Departure (from Chennai): 5.50 am

Arrival at KSR Railway Station, Bengaluru: 10.25 am

Departure from KSR Railway Station: 10.30 am

Arrival at Mysuru Junction: 12.30 pm

Total time: 6.40 hours

From Mysuru to Chennai via Bengaluru

Departure (from Mysuru): 1.05 pm

Arrival at KSR Bengaluru: 2.55 pm

Departure from KSR Railway Station: 3 pm

Arrival at Chennai: 7.35 pm

Total time: 6.30 hours 

Shatabdi Express

From Chennai to Mysuru via Bengaluru

Departure (from Chennai): 6 am

Arrival at KSR Bengaluru: 10.45 am 

Departure from KSR Railway Station: 10.50 am

Arrival at Mysuru Junction: 1 pm

Total time: 7 hours

From Mysuru to Chennai via Bengaluru

Departure (from Mysuru): 2.15 pm

Arrival at KSR Bengaluru: 4.10 pm

Departure from KSR Bengaluru: 4.15 pm

Arrival at Chennai: 9.30 pm

Total time: 7.15 hours

23 COMMENTS ON THIS POST To “South’s first Vande Bharat Express slowest in India”

  1. A V Prasanna says:

    We are residing in Fools Paradise, Given any week day Shatabdi express has around 250 empty seats between Mysuru and Chennai. While between Mysuru and Bengaluru over 300. Same is the status or return journey. As if this is not enough we have a new Vande Bharat train running in a difference of 30 to 60 min. More over Shatabdi is not running on Wednesday, so too Vande Bharat. Wonder what is working in SWR mind. With this trainin action, almost one train will run empty, with only staff moving around and sleeping for 7 hrs.

  2. foolSWR says:

    “Did not understand the schedule. Why do we have two trains starting from Chennai in the morning? One could have started from Mysuru and other from Chennai,” said Neeraj Vyas.

    Yes, looks like whoever made this schedule, must be thinking through their a*s…

  3. Mann Ki Baat! says:

    Hey A V Prasanna
    What happened to your crusade to promote the LPG cylinders use for hoseholds as against the pumped gas that Barmy Shenoy so assiduously promoted, even publishing his credentials as an open letter to Narendra Modi, explaining his experience in the dark regions of former Soviet Union?
    Barmy Shenoy is rather quiet these days!
    At last, you have posted something which is sensible. But you should as a citizen of Modi’s India understand that Modi can boast about his fast trains too when he attends congregations like the G20, lobbying for more visas for Indian IT techies , saying that India is now an advanced country competing with China, except that in China it is light years ahead in terms of transport technology.
    Like everything Modi does, this express is a redundant proposition anyway, as Shatabdi express can well do the job. You also realise that there is going to be n=many flights per day between Mysore-Chennai, when Mysore export is prepared to take the A320 medium haul jets.
    Only those who live in USA like @Sam where you do not have public transport between states, and drive for hours in the Expressway, stopping at Motels if needed run by Indians-they will do anything for Dollars, who keep shot guns in case they are needed! In Europe a distance of 300 miles is covered just around 2.5 hours-that is the diatance between Mysore and Chennai.
    The excuse of bends and curves , and slowing of this so called high speed trains is nonsense, as modern technology should be able to take care of it.
    In the West, when the discussion of public sector crops about-the example cited is Indian Railways, the bloated corrupt and overmanned edifice which delivers very little in terems of purpose and value for money.
    Meanwhile, keep fighting Barmy Shenoy and MP Simha, who are the enthusiasts of piped gas, and when Putin steps down, Modi’s energy world comes to a shuddering halt!

  4. koppal boregowda says:

    @foolsSWR
    Not surprising, as you Indians think through your posteriors.
    Just read Mr Ganapathy’s articles , whenever some one with n Indian-origin gets into a top posittion to serve his country -not India!
    This express is just another of those examples where your PM Modi can baostsaying that his is too an advanced country! He has a short memmory, abou his failure to supply oxygen tto thousands of ordinary patients in hospitals, but the VIPs could get the meagre supply!
    No wonders, students or any one educated want to escape your country fast-ready to go even to the dust -filled out backs of Australia!

  5. Nataraj c says:

    Why run in the same direction same destination two trains that too within 30 min gap. The present shatabdi train runs only 60 to 70 % capacity. It runs full only on weekends and holidays. Run one train in opposite direction for better filling capacity.

  6. Marigowda Ramanna says:

    Both @Prasanna and @foolsSWR completely miss the point. Not surprised.
    This express is created not for Mysoreans but for Tamils in Chennai and its neighbourhood. The grand scheme of creating Greater Mysore, and bringing in more settlers from Tamil Nadu, and of course Kerala later. In a few months, you will see the rush of young men and women from Tamil Nadu arriving to take up jobs in the city-which MP Simha planned in the name of developing the city. The fool , who has brains in his backside, has failed to realise that once these |Tamils and Malayalees arrive in large numbers-their population in the city is expanding fast already. This idiot Simha will lose his seat, if these new population put up their own candidate for the Lok Sabha.
    Start learning Tamil and Malayalam, Myosreans!

  7. Shandilyasa says:

    Mann kibath has written the real thing which is happening in Mysore. Swr are fooling people
    By nextonth shatabdi will be discontinued and vantebharat will be in that place to squeeze the PASSANGERS blood. This the tack trick of railways. Rly board is not increasing fates in budget whereas they are converting passanger and express trains to super fast expressed.
    Is it not fooling people of India. Why rly board
    Is not taking decisions and Approve sr citizens
    Concessions. Is it so complicated than converting all PASSANGERS trains to super fast expresses.
    Why rly board can’t invest to straighten the route between Mysore and Bangalore instead of investing in non revenue work of converting rly stations yo airport model stations at a cost 16000 crores. Whether these rly board chairman and members has got brains and commonsense?
    Mr. Pratap simha also releyed the news of
    Rlys. Stating shatabdi will not be discontinued.
    Just election GIMMIKS
    Mysore and Bangalore DRM’s and COM DHOULD PULL THEIR SOCKS TO STRAIGHTEN THE ROUTE BETWEEN MYSORE AND BANGALORE

  8. prahlad says:

    Shatabdi express can leave from mysore at 6 am for the benefit of many people who works at Bangalore so can reach at 8 am and reach Chennai around 12 30 pm leave from Chennai around 1 45 pm and reach kat padi by 3 15 pm and reach Bangalore by 6 30 and reach Mysore by 9 pm .

  9. Rakesh MN says:

    It would have been better if the train had started from Mysuru…in the morning… after early morning intercity express…next departure to chennai will be in afternoon only…

  10. Mann Ki Baat! says:

    HELLO Shandilyasa
    You make 2 good points:
    1. This sis election gimmick. Modi and the BJP high command want to win the next election in Karnataka. They know well that the BJP votes are mainly from the Lingayat community. If BJP loses Karnataka, it will be merely a North Indian party in the Hindi belt.
    2. The Shatabdi express will be replaced by this express. You can very well see this express is preparing to replace Shatabdi through timings which are nearer to Shatabdi timings. Otherwise, their wooulf have been better time table for this express. Once, the Karnataka election is over, this express will gradually take over from Shatabdi express.
    AS for Mysore-Bangalore train tracks, attention should have been paid to the curves and bends DURING THE BROAD GAUGE CONVERSION. It is too late Curves and bends do not matter that much if the technology allows the train to stay on the track. Many European train routes have curves and bends , and travel time still is good.

  11. Mann Ki Baat! says:

    HELLO Shandilyasa
    You make 2 good points:
    1. This sis election gimmick. Modi and the BJP high command want to win the next election in Karnataka. They know well that the BJP votes are mainly from the Lingayat community. If BJP loses Karnataka, it will be merely a North Indian party in the Hindi belt.
    2. The Shatabdi express will be replaced by this express. You can very well see this express is preparing to replace Shatabdi through timings which are nearer to Shatabdi timings. Otherwise, there would have been better time table for this express. Once, the Karnataka election is over, this express will gradually take over from Shatabdi express.
    AS for Mysore-Bangalore train tracks, attention should have been paid to the curves and bends DURING THE BROAD GAUGE CONVERSION. It is too late Curves and bends do not matter that much if the technology allows the train to stay on the track. Many European train routes have curves and bends , and travel time still is good.

  12. VENKAT says:

    Were the technical constraints not known prior to starting the new train? As regards the schedule also the same question posed before. ?
    The thoroughly unimaginative schedule and the lame unsurmountable excuses for speeding up the train only point to certain matters not concerned with the railways. These may be to earn praises of the PM, provide some fuel for election propaganda etc. These are definitely not exhaustive. There could be many more which are totally unconnected to railways administration.

  13. Nanda says:

    Run two trains almost at the same time & speed … incur loss & that will be a good reason to Privatize it & tools will still support this stupid idea.

  14. Nanda says:

    Run two trains almost at the same time & speed … incur loss & that will be a good reason to Privatize it & fools will still support this stupid idea.

  15. Raghavendra MB says:

    I belive that running Vande Bharat Express & Shatabdi Express from same direction & same is National waste. As MYS already got early morning intercity SF exp to MAS which is cheap & Best, along with night train & Flights, its not good idea to start from MYS as it will slow down other trains as Shatabdi needs to Overtake them all!.. Instead IR can add few non AC coaches & convert into Jan Shatabdi & run between MYS/SBC to Manglore route as flight journey is expensive & road service is very difficult.

  16. Chandrashekar says:

    What is vested interest both high end Rails at the same time. Instead increase bogies equalant to both trains and LET there be from different ends at the same time.

  17. Rao Bhamidimarri says:

    Hello Mysoreans
    You are all mugs, and so are your rulers the BJP government in Karnataka. This is not my opinion, but the opinions of Narendra Modi and BJP high command as well as the Tamil Nadu government headed by the DMK leader Stalin.
    Narendra Modi is more interested in listening to Tamil Nadu CM Stalin, whose idea was to introduce this express from Chennai to Mysore, to facilitate settlers from Chennai and nearby areas into Mysore city. The Greater Mysore idea is being put into practice no for the purpose. Narendra Modi wants to increase his BJP MPs in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. This is the first sept to favour the Tamils. He will also sanction the rail route which goes under in a tunnel under the Bandipur area which your CM Bommai objected. Modi will over rule him shortly.
    The twin Shatabdi express and this express are allowed to run for the benefit of Tamils from the Chennai end. When the initial immigration is complete, the Shatabdi express will be cancelled totally.
    Your MP Simha is a dud and a dimwit, who slavishly obeys the BJP high command.
    Just get used to more massive migration from Tamil Nadu and then from Kerala. The Mysore airport expansion will help this too.

  18. Rajendranath Bharati says:

    Though the efforts of the Government to introduce high speed trains needs to be appreciated, the routes have to be chosen after a detailed study of the traffic and the requirements of the commuters. Vande Bharat express trains should be introduced first in between cities where there’s a heavy demand like Mumbai-Hyderabad, Mumbai-Bangalore, Chennai-Mumbai routes. Later, it can be extended to shorter routes.

  19. Krishnaswamy AR says:

    If it is slowest, who has recommended it to be introduced. Moreover, for the gain of some haf an hour one should shell out 300/- extra. This looks to be to impress people in Karnataka . This service will be withdrawn once the election is over.

  20. MANISH THAKIR says:

    It is good to have Vande Bharat train. But unable to understand that both (VB and Shatabdi) trains are running at almost same time from Chennai to Mysore and vice versa. Due to this many seats may remain vacant and the Railways may suffer. I hope the SWR will adjust the timing. I think there is a lot of difference between SBC to MYS in the period 10.50 to 15.15. Similarly, there is a huge difference between MYS to SBC after 6.45 am. This difference can be adjusted. Or Vande Bharat Express can be run instead of Chamundi Express. The coaches of Chamundi Express are very old and make you tired as the journey of 2.30 hours makes you feel like traveling for 10 hours. Similarly, the same is the case with Wodiyar Express.
    It is also noted that there is a huge time lag between SBC to MAS/MS after 8 AM. Hope few things should be taken care of and comfortable journey between MYS -SBC-MS can be completed without any loss to Railway and Taxpayer.

  21. Venky says:

    This is just election gimmick by the north Indian party. The first 3 trains connected Delhi while the south has got it only after 3 years. It is likely to be withdrawn after elections citing poor patronage due to the foolish schedule

  22. Government will never run any of those with maximum speed capacity, and this is because they don’t have that speed capacity. The Indian engineers have designed a crap, They cannot compete with Talgo and TGV. Indian government is fooling us. Bullet train Dene ka vada thaa diya kya vande bharat vo bhi slow. Well done corrupt government.

  23. Mann Ki Baat, Bisi Bele Baat! says:

    @Saurabh Kumar
    You cannot even write qa short paragraph in English without including your crap Hindi Language. What a Northie idiot like you doing in Mysore city? I bet, you have not learned Kannada, which you will never do
    You, Northie Hindiwallahs do not understand, what it takes to runa train like the TGV. It needs a special track.
    If you cannot speak he language of the state you are in, you do not deserve the Talgo train or TGV. What a demented Hindiwallah!
    Hello others, just shut up, and accept more Northies, Malayalaees and Tamils. This train is meant to bring in masses of Tamils to Mysore to settle in.

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