Ernakulam-Bengaluru Vande Bharat to begin from July 31, tickets selling like hotcakes

KOCHI: Demand is soaring for the Ernakulam-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express train which is scheduled to start service on Wednesday. The booking of executive chair tickets for the eight-rake train has been completed. Meanwhile, ticket booking has started only for journeys from Kochi while return ticket booking from Bengaluru is yet to commence. However, the tickets for Sunday have already been sold out.

A total of 12 services have been announced for the special train that runs three days a week. The service will run from Kerala to Bengaluru on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and the return trips on Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays. The train departs from Ernakulam at 12.50 pm and reaches Bengaluru at 10 pm. The return journey is scheduled to leave Bengaluru at 5.30 am and reach Kochi at 2.20 pm.

AC chair car fare from Kochi is Rs.1465 and executive chair car fare is Rs.2945. At present, the eight-rack train has one executive coach and seven chair cars. Officials are already confounded to see the soaring demand for the ‘special train’ and are likely to consider the option to change this train service to a regular one.

The railway officials will assess the initial few trips and if found profitable will consider making the train permanent on this route. Malayalees are likely to opt for the elite train rather than splashing extortionate fares demanded by private bus lobbies servicing this route.