The proposed Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Mumbai and Bengaluru could reduce the Pune–Bengaluru rail journey by around three to four hours, while cutting travel between Mumbai and Bengaluru by nearly six hours, according to a report by Lokmat – Pune. Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna has indicated November 1 as a possible inauguration date, but the final timetable, fares and reservation opening date have not yet been announced.
The train recently underwent a trial run on the Mumbai–Pune section. The proposed service is expected to provide an additional overnight travel option for passengers travelling between Maharashtra, Karnataka and destinations along the route. For Pune residents, the service could shorten a journey that currently takes about 18 to 20 hours on existing trains, although the final saving will depend on the approved schedule and operational pattern.
The Mumbai–Bengaluru journey currently takes around 22 hours on the Udyan Express, according to the report. The proposed sleeper service is expected to cover the route in approximately 14 to 16 hours. This would represent a possible saving of nearly six hours for passengers travelling between the two metropolitan regions. The precise travel time will be known only after Indian Railways publishes the final operating schedule.
The proposed route would connect Bengaluru’s Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal with Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus through Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune and Kalyan. Stops at Pune and Solapur would give passengers in these cities another direct rail option for travelling towards southern India. The service would also connect several important railway nodes across the Deccan, although the report does not specify the frequency of operations.
The train is proposed to have 16 air-conditioned coaches with a total capacity of 823 berths. The composition would include 11 three-tier coaches with 611 berths, four two-tier coaches with 188 berths, and one first-class coach with 24 berths. The configuration is intended for long-distance overnight travel, combining sleeping accommodation with the Vande Bharat train platform.
The proposed service’s impact on passengers will depend on more than its headline travel time. Its usefulness for Pune and Solapur will also be shaped by the number of scheduled stops, departure and arrival timings, ticket prices, quota arrangements and service frequency. None of these operational details has been officially finalised in the information currently available.
The possible November 1 inauguration date is therefore an indicative milestone rather than a confirmed start of regular bookings. Indian Railways is yet to announce the final timetable, fare structure and reservation date. Those details will determine when passengers can access the service and how the new train will fit into existing Mumbai–Pune and Pune–Bengaluru rail operations.
