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The Railways has announced a new train service between Bengaluru and Mumbai via Hubballi, which will begin operating from May 23. However, the newly introduced train has disappointed many passengers because it is not superfast, as Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had earlier promised. Instead, the train will take nearly 24 hours to complete the journey.
Bengaluru-Mumbai Superfast Train
The new service, called the SMVT Bengaluru-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Bi-Weekly Express, was approved in December 2025. Train number 16553 will leave SMVT Bengaluru at 8.35 pm every Tuesday and Saturday, while the return service from Mumbai's Lokmanya Tilak Terminus will start from May 24.
Passengers' Expressed Criticism
Passengers and elected representatives have criticised the long travel time and timings of the train. Earlier, there were expectations that a superfast train would be launched between Bengaluru and Mumbai through central Karnataka. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi had also said that the train would later be upgraded into a Vande Bharat Sleeper service.
The train route passes through important cities such as Tumakuru, Davanagere, Haveri, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Belagavi before reaching Mumbai. While the new service improves connectivity for travellers in Karnataka and Maharashtra, many passengers feel the journey time is still too long compared to expectations.
Railway Officials' Promise to Passengers
Railway officials believe the train will still help meet increasing passenger demand between Bengaluru and Mumbai. Reports also suggest that a faster Vande Bharat Sleeper service between the two cities may start later this year, reducing travel time to around 15 hours.