Indian Railways will inaugurate two new Vande Bharat Sleeper trains connecting Mumbai with Bengaluru and Delhi with Varanasi on October 31 and November 1, 2026, respectively. These additions expand overnight premium train options serving major economic and pilgrimage destinations.
Mumbai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Sleeper Route and Schedule
The Mumbai-Bengaluru service will link Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) with Bengaluru’s Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT). The train will travel via Kalyan, Pune, Solapur, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Guntakal and Anantapur, covering nearly 1,000 kilometers. It will operate six days a week, excluding Saturday, using two Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets.
Departure from CSMT Mumbai is scheduled at 8:10 pm with an
arrival at SMVT Bengaluru at 11:55 am the next day, completing the journey in 15 hours and 45 minutes. The reverse journey will start from Bengaluru at 7:50 pm and reach Mumbai at 11:55 am the following day. This timing reduces travel duration by approximately 6 hours and 20 minutes compared to the existing Udyan Express service. The train has achieved trial run speeds of up to 160 km/h.
Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Sleeper Schedule and Route Details
The second service will operate between Varanasi and New Delhi with stops at Prayagraj and Kanpur. Train number 27421 departs Varanasi at 8:50 pm, arrives at Prayagraj Junction at 10:35 pm,
departs again at 10:40 pm, reaches Kanpur Central at 12:40 am, and arrives New Delhi at 5:55 am the following day. The return train 27422 leaves New Delhi at 9:40 pm, halts at Prayagraj at 4:45 am, and arrives in Varanasi at 6:45 am.
This route also provides an overnight travel option for business travelers, students, pilgrims, and tourists connecting eastern Uttar Pradesh with the national capital. The train will run six days a week, not operating on Saturdays.
Fare Structure and Reservation Details
Fares for both Vande Bharat Sleeper trains are charged per passenger per kilometer and range between Rs 2.40 and Rs 3.80,
excluding GST. For example, a 1,000 km journey in air-conditioned 3AC class costs approximately Rs 2,400 excluding GST. Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed these fare and reservation details in a Lok Sabha reply.
The Vande Bharat Sleeper trains do not offer Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) tickets. Passengers on the waiting list receive confirmed reservations only when confirmed ticket holders cancel. The reservation system includes quotas for lower berths assigned to senior citizens, women aged 45 and above, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, and their attendants. These quotas allocate six to seven lower berths per Sleeper class coach, four to five
lower berths per 3AC coach, and three to four lower berths per 2AC coach depending on coach composition.
Trial Runs, Catering, and Operational Details
Trial runs for the Mumbai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Sleeper have reached speeds up to 160 km/h. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is finalizing the onboard food menu for this route, which is expected to feature regional cuisines. The new service aims to provide a competitive overnight travel alternative to air transport on these busy corridors.
Background and Official Information
The first Vande Bharat Sleeper train was launched on January 17, 2026, operating between Howrah and Kamakhya, covering the distance in about 14 hours. The new
services to Mumbai-Bengaluru and Delhi-Varanasi will extend this premium overnight network to additional routes. Indian Railways continues to operate various train categories to cater to different passenger segments, maintaining fares that are among the lowest worldwide.
Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw provided the official details on fares, routes, and reservations during a session in the Lok Sabha. The railway administration is expected to announce the finalized regular timetable for these services soon.
