There is some good news for Rail travellers of North Karnataka. Vande Bharat Express between Bengaluru and Hubballi Dharwad likely to start commercial operations by June.
South Western Railway (SWR) and the Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE) are working hard to complete the pending Electrification works between Hubballi and Bengaluru.
As per a document released by CORE, Indian Railways was supposed to conduct Trial run of Vande Bharat Express between Bengaluru and Dharwad on April 12th.
But the trial was postponed due to some unavoidable reasons. The document also mentions that Electrification work of Down line between Hubballi and Saunshi will be completed by April 30.
Trains between Bengaluru and Hubballi are likely to be hauled by Electric locos by May 30th. Construction of Traction Substation (TSS) is in progress at few places.
Electric loco trial was successfully conducted between Devaragudda Hubballi section (Up line only) on 31st March, 2023 completing the Electrification between Bengaluru and Hubballi.
Recently, the patch doubling between Saunshi to Hubballi and Haveri yard has been completed. The Railway Electrification, Bengaluru is likely to complete pending Electrification works soon.
As per the sources, Vande Bharat Express will run between Bengaluru and Hubballi Dharwad by June after the completion of Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023.
As Code of Conduct is in force in Karnataka, the political leaders are not allowed to inaugurate any new trains. So, the inauguration will be pushed to end of May.