A grand ceremony welcomed the new Vande Bharat Express train at Coimbatore Junction on Saturday, marking the inauguration of a crucial inter-state rail connection between three South Indian states. Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially flagged off the Ernakulam Junction-KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express through videoconferencing, heralding a new era of connectivity for the region.
Grand Welcome at Coimbatore Junction
The inaugural event saw participation from numerous dignitaries including Salem divisional railway manager Panna Lal, Coimbatore corporation mayor R Ranganayaki, and deputy mayor R Vetriselvan. Members of the Divisional Railway Users' Consultative Committee joined in giving a warm reception to the train that promises to transform interstate travel between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
The train service will open for public travel starting November 11 and will operate six days a week, with no services on Wednesdays. This strategic timing provides excellent connectivity for various passenger segments including IT professionals, business travelers, tourists, and students.
Detailed Schedule and Travel Benefits
The train will follow a carefully planned schedule that maximizes convenience for passengers. From KSR Bengaluru, the departure is set for 5:10 AM, with arrival at Coimbatore at 10:33 AM. After a brief two-minute halt, the train departs Coimbatore at 10:35 AM and reaches Ernakulam at 1:50 PM.
For the return journey, the train leaves Ernakulam at 2:20 PM, arrives at Coimbatore by 5:20 PM, departs Coimbatore at 5:23 PM, and finally reaches Bengaluru at 11:00 PM. A senior official from the Salem division highlighted the significant time savings, noting that the journey from Ernakulam to Bengaluru now saves approximately two hours compared to existing services.
Expansion Plans and Route Differences
The new service begins with eight coaches, but railway authorities have confirmed plans to increase capacity to twelve coaches in the coming months. This expansion reflects the anticipated demand for the high-speed connectivity between these important South Indian cities.
Interestingly, Coimbatore already has two existing Vande Bharat services - one to Chennai and another to Bengaluru. The newly inaugurated train differs from the existing Bengaluru service primarily in its routing. While the existing Vande Bharat to Bengaluru travels via Dharmapuri, the new train takes the Tirupathur route, accounting for the one-hour timing variation between the two services.
Railway officials also revealed that the introduction of sleeper coaches in Vande Bharat trains is under active consideration and will be implemented on a priority basis. This development could further enhance long-distance travel comfort for passengers using these premium services.
The new Vande Bharat Express represents a significant step in improving regional connectivity and reducing travel time between three economically important states. With its modern amenities and efficient scheduling, the train is expected to become a preferred choice for travelers seeking comfortable and swift inter-state transportation.
