Rail connectivity between Nagpur and Bengaluru is set to improve with the introduction of a new weekly express train, linking the Orange City to India’s tech capital. However, the 24-hour journey time has raised concerns about its efficiency, especially when compared to faster trains already operating on the route.
The yet-to-be-scheduled train, numbered 11086/11085 Gwalior–SMVT Bengaluru Express, will run weekly via Nagpur with maintenance operations primarily handled at Gwalior, while secondary checks will be done at SMVT Bengaluru under South Western Railway.
A notification from the Railway Board’s Coaching Directorate to various railway zones—including Northern, West Central, Central, Southern, and South Western Railways—outlined the train’s route, scheduled halts, and operational timings.
Despite offering user-friendly timings in both directions at Nagpur, the 24-hour duration makes it the slowest among existing options. In contrast, Duronto and Rajdhani Express services cover the same distance in 18 to 19 hours. This slower pace is attributed to the train’s non-superfast classification and a relatively high number of stoppages.
The new service will operate with 22 coaches. Train No. 11086 will depart Gwalior every Friday and arrive at Nagpur at 5:50 AM on Saturday, halting briefly before proceeding to SMVT Bengaluru, where it is scheduled to reach at 7:35 AM on Sunday. Within Nagpur Division, the only additional halt will be at Ballarshah (arrival 9:50 AM, departure 9:55 AM).
On the return leg, Train No. 11085 will depart from SMVT Bengaluru at 3:50 PM every Sunday, reaching Ballarshah at 12:25 PM the next day and Nagpur at 3:50 PM, with a five-minute halt before heading toward Gwalior.
Key halts on this route include Shivpuri, Guna, Ashok Nagar, Bina, Vidisha, Bhopal, Betul, Sewagram, Chandrapur, Sirpur, Kaghaznagar, Bellampalli, Kazipet, Kacheguda, Mahbubnagar, Gadwal, Kurnool City, Dhone, Anantapur, Dharmavaram, Hindupur, and Yelahanka.
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