CHENNAI: Can train travel between Chennai and Bengaluru be cut to just 1 hour 13 mins? The Union Budget presented on February 1 has revived this question with its push for high-speed rail corridors linking major South Indian cities, including Chennai–Bengaluru and Chennai–Hyderabad.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced plans to develop seven high-speed rail corridors, including along the Chennai–Bengaluru and Chennai–Hyderabad routes, at an estimated cost of Rs 16 lakh crore. The initiative aims to significantly reduce travel time and shift passengers from air to rail.
At present, train travel between Chennai and Bengaluru remains time-consuming, despite recent improvements.
Train No. 12697 Lalbagh Superfast Express, departing Chennai at 3.30 pm on February 2, takes 6 hours and 25 minutes, arriving in Bengaluru at 9.55 pm.
The Vande Bharat Express, which has seen increasing passenger preference over flights, departs Chennai at 5.30 pm and reaches Bengaluru at 10.25 pm, taking approximately 4 hours and 25 minutes.
This highlights a nearly two-hour difference between conventional express trains and Vande Bharat services. Currently, Vande Bharat trains operate at speeds of up to 130 kmph.
Overall, train journeys between the two cities take anywhere between four and six hours, depending on the service.
High-speed corridors, designed for speeds of up to 320 kmph, could potentially bring travel time down to under two hours, radically altering intercity travel.
The Budget announcement leaves key questions unanswered. Will these corridors introduce bullet trains, or will existing services such as Vande Bharat be upgraded to operate on dedicated high-speed tracks? Concerns also remain around safety, infrastructure readiness and accident risks at higher speeds.
Flying between Chennai and Bengaluru takes just over an hour but often comes at a significantly higher cost.
An IndiGo flight departing Chennai on February 2 at 9.30 pm reaches Bengaluru airport at 10.40 pm, taking 1 hour and 10 minutes, but costs around Rs 7,263.
In comparison, a Vande Bharat Express ticket costs about Rs 1,175 for a basic fare, though the journey takes 4 hours and 25 minutes and delivers passengers directly into the heart of the city.
Shatabdi Express tickets are priced at around Rs 1,000 for the basic fare, and the train takes approximately 5 hours and 45 minutes to travel from Chennai Central to Bengaluru.
While flights are faster in the air, reaching Bengaluru city centre from Kempegowda International Airport can take over three hours during peak traffic, along with expensive cab fares. If high-speed rail corridors bring train travel time down to under two hours, even with ticket prices around Rs 3,000, rail is likely to emerge as the preferred choice for many travellers.
While high-speed corridors focus on major cities, rail connectivity within Tamil Nadu remains uneven. Routes such as Chennai–Madurai and Chennai–Tirunelveli continue to lack faster, frequent services, limiting access to smaller cities and regional trade.
Faster trains promise economic gains, but passenger experience remains a concern. Complaints over cleanliness, restrooms and station maintenance persist, even on premium services. High-speed rail has the potential to reshape intercity travel, but its success will depend on balancing speed with safety, affordability, regional connectivity and basic passenger comfort.