Karnataka's second Vande Bharat Express between Bengaluru and Dharwad flagged off

The second ultra luxury semi high speed Vande Bharat Express between Bengaluru and Dharwad chugged out on Tuesday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged it off virtually from Rani Kamalapati Railway Station in Bhopal.

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister for Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi, South Western Railway (SWR) General Manager Sanjeev Kishore and Hubballi Divisional Railway Manager Harsh Khare were among those present on the occasion here. Gehlot and Joshi led the flagging off ceremony on behalf of the Prime Minister here. The journey from Bengaluru to Dharwad in AC Chair car will cost Rs 1,165 and executive class Rs 2,210.

The return trip will be costlier by Rs 230 since it includes lunch and snacks on board. ”In Dharwad to Bengaluru direction, lunch is also included in addition to snacks in ticket itself whereas in Bengaluru to Dharwad direction lunch is not available. Only Breakfast/Snacks will be served,” a Railway officer said. According to the SWR authorities, the inaugural run will have stoppages at Hubballi, Haveri, Ranebennur, Harihar, Davangere, Chikkajajur, Birur, Arasikere, Tiptur, Ammasandra, Tumakuru, Doddabele, Chikkabanavara, and Yashwanthpur before reaching its final destination.
The Vande Bharat express train will depart from KSR Bengaluru City Railway Station (SBC) at 5.45 am and reach Dharwad at 12.10 pm. On its return journey, the train will start at 1.15 pm and arrive in Bengaluru by 7.45 pm. This is the second Vande Bharat train in Karnataka. The first one is running between Mysuru and Chennai via Bengaluru.

A large number of school students also boarded the train to experience their maiden journey in the ultra-luxury train.

With a broad smile on their faces, they were holding placards, which greeted the Railways and those travelling in the train.