The Varanasi-New Delhi Vande Bharat sleeper train will begin regular commercial services on 2 November 2026, with bookings now open for passengers travelling between the two cities. The new overnight service will be operated and maintained by the Northern Railway zone and will run on most days of the week.
According to details reported by Aaj Tak Business and attributed to the Rail Ministry, train numbers 27421 and 27422 will operate between Varanasi and New Delhi. The Varanasi-New Delhi service will not run on Fridays, while the New Delhi-Varanasi service will not run on Saturdays.
The train will stop at four stations during its journey: Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, Aligarh and Ghaziabad. These halts will provide boarding and alighting points for passengers travelling along the route in addition to those starting or ending their journey at Varanasi and New Delhi.
The service will have 16 coaches and offer three classes: Third AC, Second AC and First AC. The reported fare for the complete Varanasi-New Delhi journey is Rs 1,915 for Third AC, Rs 2,470 for Second AC and Rs 3,030 for First AC. A station-wise fare list has also been released, although the supplied report does not provide the individual fares for every station pair.
Passengers can book tickets online through the IRCTC website, the Rail Connect app and the RailOne app. Offline bookings will be available through Passenger Reservation System counters at railway stations. The opening of bookings gives passengers access to the fare structure before the train begins its scheduled commercial operation.
The sleeper train is described in the report as India’s second Vande Bharat sleeper service and Uttar Pradesh’s first. It has been designed for high-speed operation and can reach a maximum speed of 180 kmph. On the Varanasi-New Delhi route, however, the train is expected to operate at speeds ranging from 130 kmph to 160 kmph, according to the information reported.
The introduction of a sleeper service adds an overnight option to a major rail connection linking eastern Uttar Pradesh with the national capital. Its passenger utility will depend on the published operating days, the four intermediate stops, the availability of different air-conditioned classes and the fare applicable to each station pair. The regular service is scheduled to begin on Monday, 2 November.
