Nagercoil - Bengaluru Vande Bharat Sleeper: Tamil Nadu Route Could Save Time and Fare

The proposed Nagercoil–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Sleeper Express route has sparked concerns among railway passenger associations over travel time and ticket fares.

The Eraniel Railway Passengers Association (ERPA) has urged Indian Railways to operate the proposed service through Tamil Nadu instead of Kerala, claiming that the alternative route could significantly reduce both journey time and passenger costs.

Kerala Route May Take 13–14 Hours

According to the association, the proposed route could run from Nagercoil via Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Coimbatore and Salem before reaching Bengaluru.

The journey could take around 13 to 14 hours, with a reported three-tier AC fare of approximately ₹2,335.

Tamil Nadu Route Could Be Faster

The ERPA has suggested an alternative route through Tirunelveli, Madurai and Namakkal before proceeding towards Bengaluru.

The association estimates that this route would cover approximately 664 km, with a journey time of around 8 to 9 hours. The estimated three-tier AC fare could be around ₹1,690.

If these estimates are adopted, passengers could potentially save about ₹640 in fare and nearly five hours of travel time.

Railway Connectivity Demands

The association has also requested better railway connectivity for passengers in Kanniyakumari and Nagercoil. Its demands include extending the Madurai–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express to Nagercoil via Tirunelveli and extending other existing services to Kanniyakumari.

The ERPA has also proposed extending the Thiruvananthapuram Central–Mangaluru Express to Nagercoil, which it says could provide overnight connectivity to northern Kerala while helping reduce congestion at Thiruvananthapuram Central.

It has further sought extensions of passenger and superfast services connecting Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi.

What Passengers Want

The key demand from the railway association is for a shorter and more affordable Nagercoil–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Sleeper route through Tamil Nadu. If the proposal is considered, passengers from southern Tamil Nadu could benefit from reduced travel time and lower fares.

The final route, schedule and fare will depend on the decision of Indian Railways.