Booking has opened for the Varanasi–New Delhi Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, which will begin regular commercial operations on November 2, 2026, offering overnight rail travel between the two cities in three air-conditioned classes.
The train, numbered 27421/27422, was inaugurated on Saturday and will be operated and maintained by the Northern Railway zone, according to details attributed to the Rail Ministry. It is Uttar Pradesh’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train and the second sleeper service in the Vande Bharat fleet.
The Varanasi–New Delhi service, train 27421, will operate on all days of the week except Friday. The return service, train 27422, will run on all days except Saturday. The schedule is intended to provide a regular overnight connection between eastern Uttar Pradesh and the national capital, while also serving major stations along the route.
The train will stop at four stations between Varanasi and New Delhi: Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, Aligarh and Ghaziabad. These stops connect the service to important urban centres and railway hubs in Uttar Pradesh and the National Capital Region. The report does not provide the exact arrival and departure timings for each station.
The 16-coach train will offer First AC, Second AC and Third AC accommodation. The reported one-way fare from Varanasi to New Delhi is Rs 3,030 for First AC, Rs 2,470 for Second AC and Rs 1,915 for Third AC. The published fare details are for the listed Varanasi–New Delhi journey; station-wise fares for shorter journeys have not been provided in the supplied information.
Passengers can book tickets online through the IRCTC website, the Rail Connect app and the RailOne app. Offline reservations are available through Passenger Reservation System counters at railway stations. The opening of reservations ahead of the commercial launch allows passengers to plan travel on the new service before its first regular run.
The train has been designed for high-speed operation and can reach a maximum speed of 180 kmph under suitable operating conditions. On the Varanasi–New Delhi route, however, it is expected to operate at speeds ranging between 130 kmph and 160 kmph, according to the reported railway details. Actual journey performance will depend on route conditions and railway operations.
The service adds a sleeper-format option to the Vande Bharat network, which has largely been associated with daytime chair-car travel. Its route links Varanasi with New Delhi through Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, Aligarh and Ghaziabad, providing a direct rail connection across several major urban and regional centres.
Regular commercial operations are scheduled to begin on Monday, November 2, with the two services following their respective weekly operating patterns. Further passenger information, including station-wise fares and timings, will be available through railway booking channels.
