Indian Railways is conducting field trials of a 20-car Vande Bharat Express on the challenging Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road Ghat section in Karnataka, testing braking, acceleration, stability and operational safety. The 55-km Western Ghats stretch features a 1-in-50 ruling gradient, 57 tunnels, 108 sharp curves and 226 bridges, with successful trials and safety clearances potentially paving the way for a Bengaluru–Mangaluru Vande Bharat service.

A specially-manufactured 20-car rake had arrived in Mysuru last week from Integral Coach Factory, Chennai.

South Western Railway begins Vande Bharat safety trials in critical Western Ghat Section | Bengaluru News