Indian Railways is set to expand its Vande Bharat Sleeper network with two overnight services connecting Mumbai with Bengaluru and Varanasi with New Delhi, offering faster rail options on routes used by business travellers, professionals, students, pilgrims and tourists.
The Mumbai-Bengaluru service is scheduled to be inaugurated on October 31, while the Varanasi-New Delhi service is scheduled for inauguration on November 1. The railway administration is expected to announce the final timetable for regular operations, and several details in the proposed schedules remain subject to official confirmation.
The Mumbai-Bengaluru train will run between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) Bengaluru. It is expected to cover the nearly 1,000-km journey in 15 hours and 45 minutes, around six hours and 20 minutes faster than the existing Udyan Express. The proposed route includes Kalyan, Pune, Solapur, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Guntakal and Anantapur.
According to the tentative schedule, the train would leave CSMT at 8.10pm and reach SMVT Bengaluru at 11.55am the following day. In the return direction, it is expected to depart Bengaluru at 7.50pm and arrive in Mumbai at 11.55am the next morning. Two trainsets have been proposed for the route, with operations expected six days a week. The train has completed a trial run at speeds of up to 160 kmph.
The second service will connect Varanasi and New Delhi through Prayagraj and Kanpur. Under the proposed schedule, train number 27421 would leave Varanasi at 8.50pm, reach Prayagraj Junction at 10.35pm and leave after a five-minute halt at 10.40pm. It would reach Kanpur Central at 12.40am before arriving in New Delhi at 5.55am.
In the return direction, train number 27422 is expected to leave New Delhi at 9.40pm and reach Prayagraj at 4.45am the following day. After a five-minute halt, it would continue to Varanasi, arriving at 6.45am. A special rake is scheduled to depart from Varanasi at 11am on the inaugural day. Once regular services begin, the train is expected to operate six days a week, except Saturdays.
The Varanasi-New Delhi service will provide another overnight option for passengers travelling between eastern Uttar Pradesh and the national capital. It would supplement existing services between Prayagraj and Delhi, including the Humsafar Express, Shiv Ganga Express and Prayagraj Express. The route is also expected to serve passengers travelling to Varanasi for pilgrimage and tourism.
The fare structure for Vande Bharat Sleeper trains is based on a per-passenger, per-kilometre rate. For 3AC, the stated rate is Rs 2.40 per passenger per kilometre, excluding GST. On that basis, a 1,000-km journey would have an indicative fare of Rs 2,400 before GST. Across classes, the fare is stated to range from Rs 2.40 to Rs 3.80 per passenger per kilometre.
These trains will not have a Reservation Against Cancellation provision. Passengers on the waiting list can receive confirmed berths when passengers with confirmed reservations cancel their tickets. The reservation arrangements include earmarked lower berths for senior citizens, female passengers aged 45 years and above, and pregnant women. The combined quota is expected to include six to seven lower berths per Sleeper coach, four to five per 3AC coach and three to four per 2AC coach, depending on the train configuration.
Railway provisions also include quotas for persons with disabilities and their attendants in mail and express services, including Rajdhani and Shatabdi-type trains. The Mumbai-Bengaluru menu is being finalised in consultation with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, with regional cuisines expected to be included.
The first Vande Bharat Sleeper service began on the Howrah-Kamakhya route on January 17, 2026, covering the journey in around 14 hours. The final operating timetable, confirmed fares and regular service details for the two new routes are expected to be announced by the railway administration.
