Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw virtually flagged off a new express train service between Bengaluru and Mumbai on 17 May 2026, marking what he described as a major step in strengthening rail connectivity between Karnataka and Maharashtra and fulfilling long-pending demands from both South and North Karnataka. 
Speaking at the event, Vaishnaw announced that a Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Bengaluru and Mumbai is expected to commence soon, adding a premium overnight option to one of the busiest inter-state rail corridors in the country. He noted that railway funding allocations to Karnataka had increased significantly in recent years, a development he linked directly to the accelerated pace of project execution across the state. 
Outlining station redevelopment progress, the minister stated that 61 stations in Karnataka are being upgraded under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at a combined cost of INR 2,160 crore, of which nine have already been completed. Among the larger redevelopment works, Bengaluru Cantonment station is being redeveloped at a cost of INR 485 crore, while Yeshwantpur station redevelopment carries a budget of INR 367 crore. 
On network expansion, Vaishnaw said approximately 1,750 km of new railway lines have been constructed in Karnataka since 2014, and that complex electrification works on the Hassan-Mangaluru section have been completed, with testing currently underway. He also provided an update on the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project, stating that work was progressing across all four corridors. Land acquisition has been completed for both the Baiyappanahalli-Chikkabanavara and Heelalige-Rajanukunte corridors, with station works currently in progress. The KSR Bengaluru-Devanahalli alignment has received joint approval from the State Government and the Railways, with its geotechnical survey already completed, while the Kengeri-Whitefield alignment was approved recently and survey work is set to begin shortly. The minister noted that the suburban rail network is designed to integrate key urban hubs, including the airport, Electronic City, Marathahalli, and Hebbal. 
On high-speed and semi-high-speed services, Vaishnaw said Karnataka currently operates 12 pairs of Vande Bharat trains, with testing underway on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru route that is expected to improve coastal connectivity up to Madgaon. He further highlighted that bullet train corridors connecting Bengaluru with Hyderabad and Chennai have been approved, and that the broader high-speed rail network, with a long-term vision of linking Mumbai, Bengaluru, and other major cities, is expected to expand to 7,000 km. 
Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna, addressing the gathering during the flagging off of Train No. 16553/54 SMVT Bengaluru-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express, thanked Vaishnaw for sanctioning the new service and said it would benefit passengers on one of the busiest routes while supporting Karnataka's broader development. Somanna added that a Vande Bharat Sleeper maintenance depot would be established at Thanisandra at a cost of INR 270 crore, alongside a chair car maintenance facility at SMVT Bengaluru costing INR 52.73 crore. 
On capacity augmentation, Somanna listed ongoing doubling works on the Baiyappanahalli-Hosur (INR 1,116 crore) and Bettahalasuru-Rajanukunte (INR 248 crore) sections, along with quadrupling works around Bengaluru valued at INR 1,347 crore. He also said automatic signalling systems are being implemented across key sections including Yesvantpur, KSR Bengaluru, Lottegollahalli, Baiyappanahalli, Penukonda, Mysuru, and Jolarpettai at a combined cost of INR 6,396 crore. 
Somanna further stated that Karnataka has received a record railway budget allocation of INR 7,748 crore, with approximately 3,840 km of railway lines developed and 3,742 km electrified since 2014, taking the state close to full electrification. The number of road over-bridges and road under-bridges in the state has risen from about 150 before 2014 to 707 currently, with 146 more scheduled for completion within the next year, and the elimination of all level crossings targeted within three years. 
Members of Parliament P.C. Mohan, Lehar Singh Siroya, and Tejasvi Surya attended the event, with senior Railway officials also present.