Kerala’s 3rd Vande Bharat Express upgraded to 16 coaches after 9 months: Check route

Kerala’s 3rd Vande Bharat Express has been upgraded to 16 coaches after nine months, increasing capacity on the route. Check the full route details.

3 min readUpdated: Aug 16, 2026 10:31 AM IST

9 months after launch, Kerala's 3rd Vande Bharat Express gets 16 coaches (Image: Southern Railway/X)

Vande Bharat Express train in Kerala: Nine months after its launch, the Ministry of Railways has increased the seating capacity of Kerala’s third Vande Bharat Express. The semi-high-speed train is operated and maintained by the South Western Railway (SWR) zone. As of August 15, three pairs of Vande Bharat Express trains are operating in Kerala.

Other Vande Bharat Express trains currently operating in Kerala are:

Train number 20631/20632 Mangaluru Central-Thiruvananthapuram Central-Mangaluru Central Vande Bharat Express
Train number 20633/20634 Kasaragod-Thiruvananthapuram Central-Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express

Kerala’s 3rd Vande Bharat Express – Route, Train number

Kerala’s third Vande Bharat train runs between Ernakulam and KSR Bengaluru. Train number 26652/26651 Ernakulam Jn-KSR Bengaluru-Ernakulam Jn Vande Bharat Express was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through video conferencing in November, 2025.

Also Read | Dhanbad-Coimbatore Amrit Bharat Express: Check train number, route, stops and timings

Ernakulam-KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat train to run with 16 coaches

From Monday, August 17, the Ernakulam-KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express will run with 16 coaches, up from 8 coaches at the time of its launch. The upgraded train will have 2 Executive Chair Car coaches and 14 Chair Car coaches, taking the total to 16 coaches. The railway network in Kerala falls under the administrative jurisdiction of Southern Railway (SR) zone.

“Train No. 26651/26652 KSR Bengaluru-Ernakulam Jn-KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express will be permanently augmented with One Executive Chair Car & Seven Chair Car Coaches Ex. KSR Bengaluru & Ex. Ernakulam Jn with effect from 17th August, 2026.

The revised composition for the above Vande Bharat trains after the augmentation will be: 2- Executive Chair Car Coaches & 14- Chair Car Coaches = Total 16 Coaches,” SN Narain, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Southern Railway said in a statement.

Also Read | Vande Bharat Sleeper: 24-car trainset nears production, says ICF GM

Ernakulam-KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat train: Distance, Travel time

The Ernakulam-KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat train covers a distance of 638 km in 08:40 hrs. This is the fastest train on the route, as other trains currently take more than 11 hours to cover the same distance. It runs six days a week except Wednesday.

Story continues below this ad

Ernakulam-KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat stops

Train number 26651/26652 Ernakulam-KSR Bengaluru-Ernakulam runs via Coimbatore, Palakkad route. During its journey between Ernakulam and KSR Bengaluru, this Vande Bharat train will stop at seven stations. These are: Krishnarajapuram, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Palakkad and Thrissur.

Ernakulam Bangalore Vande Bharat timings

Train number 26651 Bangalore-Ernakulam Vande Bharat Express departs from KSR Bengaluru at 05:10 hrs to reach Ernakulam at 13:50 hrs. In its return journey, train number 26652 Ernakulam-KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express leaves Ernakulam at 14:20 hrs to reach KSR Bengaluru at 23:00 hrs.

Anish Mondal

Anish Mondal is a journalist with over nine years of experience covering the railways and roadways. Currently a member of the Indianexpress.com editorial team, Anish specializes in high-impact sectors. Professional Journey Anish began his career at the public broadcaster Rajya Sabha Television (now Sansad TV), where he developed a foundational understanding of legislative processes and national governance. In 2018, he transitioned to digital financial journalism at FinancialExpress.com, spending nearly six years refining his expertise in market trends and corporate reporting. Before joining The Indian Express in 2025, he served as a key contributor at ETNowNews.com. Education & Expertise Anish’s reporting is backed by a rigorous academic background in communication and the humanities: Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) – Apeejay Stya University Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Production (PGTVRJP) – Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication Bachelor of Arts (English Honours) – University of Calcutta Areas of Coverage Connectivity: Detailed reporting on the expansion of Indian Railways and National Highway networks. ... Read More

Loading Recommendations...

Sep 06: Latest News

Live Blog