NEW DELHI: Today marks the commencement of a significant milestone as the Hyderabad-Bangalore Vande Bharat Express embarks on its trial run, paving the way for its official operations scheduled to commence on September 25. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate the train on that auspicious day, heralding a new era of connectivity between the two bustling tech hubs, Bangalore and Hyderabad. The trial run of this cutting-edge express train is set to take place today, covering the stretch between Kacheguda and Yeshwantpur.

Upon successful operation, the Hyderabad-Bangalore Vande Bharat Express will become the third of its kind to serve Karnataka, joining the ranks of the Mysuru-Chennai and Bengaluru-Dharwad routes. As anticipation builds for its commercial launch, a final trial run is being conducted today. The train will depart from Kacheguda and is expected to arrive at Yeshwantpur at 2 pm, with its return journey to Kacheguda scheduled for 2:45 pm.

This high-speed train is poised to significantly reduce travel time between these two major IT hubs, covering the 610-kilometer distance in just 8 hours and 30 minutes. This marks a substantial improvement over the existing train services, which typically take anywhere from 9 to 12 hours to complete the journey. The Vande Bharat Express will operate at an average speed of approximately 72 kilometers per hour.

The detailed schedule for the Kacheguda-Yeshwantpur Vande Bharat route is yet to be officially announced by the Railway authorities. However, sources within the Railways suggest that train number 20703 will depart from Kacheguda at 5:30 am and reach Yeshwantpur at 2 pm, while train number 20704 will depart from Yeshwantpur at 2:45 pm and arrive at Kacheguda at 11:15 pm. The train will make stops at Mahbubnagar, Kurnool City, Dhone, Anantapur, and Dharmavaram along its route. Interestingly, it will not halt at any of the major stations within Karnataka.

Operating six days a week, the Vande Bharat Express will take a maintenance break on Wednesdays. The train consists of 16 coaches, including 14 chair cars and two executive classes. The fare structure for this semi-high-speed train connecting two major South Indian cities is yet to be officially announced by Railway officials.

In addition to the eagerly awaited Kacheguda-Yeshwantpur Vande Bharat Express, Prime Minister Modi is anticipated to virtually flag off eight other trains on September 24, further enhancing India's railway connectivity.

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