NEW DELHI: Indian Railways is set to expand its premium overnight train network with two new Vande Bharat Sleeper services connecting Mumbai and Bengaluru, and Varanasi and New Delhi. The Bengaluru-Mumbai service is scheduled to be inaugurated on October 31, followed by the Varanasi-New Delhi service on November 1.
The two services are expected to provide faster overnight connectivity for business travellers, working professionals, students, pilgrims and tourists. The Mumbai-Bengaluru train is expected to cover the nearly 1,000km journey in 15 hours and 45 minutes, while the Varanasi-New Delhi service will run overnight via Prayagraj and Kanpur.
The new routes will add to the existing Vande Bharat Sleeper network, which currently operates between Howrah and Kamakhya.
Mumbai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Sleeper
Route and stopsThe proposed Mumbai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Sleeper will connect Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai with Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) in Bengaluru. The route will pass through Kalyan, Pune, Solapur, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Guntakal and Anantapur.
The service will connect two major economic centres in Maharashtra and Karnataka, offering another travel option for people commuting between the cities for work, business and tourism.
The train has completed its trial run at speeds of up to 160kmph. Two Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets have been proposed for the route. The service is expected to operate six days a week, although the schedule and other operational details remain tentative and are subject to official confirmation.
Timings and travel timeAccording to the tentative schedule, the Mumbai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Sleeper will depart from CSMT at 8.10pm and reach SMVT Bengaluru at 11.55am the following day.
In the return direction, the train is expected to leave Bengaluru at 7.50pm and arrive at CSMT at 11.55am the next day.
The proposed service will cover the journey in 15 hours and 45 minutes, reducing travel time by around six hours and 20 minutes compared with the existing Udyan Express.
Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Sleeper
Route and stopsThe second proposed service will connect Varanasi with New Delhi, passing through Prayagraj and Kanpur. The train is expected to provide another premium overnight travel option between eastern Uttar Pradesh and the national capital.
The service is also expected to strengthen connectivity between Prayagraj, Delhi and other major cities along the route. For passengers travelling from Prayagraj to Delhi, it will offer an additional option alongside the Humsafar Express, Shiv Ganga Express and Prayagraj Express.
The new service is expected to benefit pilgrims and tourists travelling to Varanasi, as well as businesspeople, working professionals and students from Prayagraj who need to reach the national capital early in the morning.
TimingsAccording to the proposed schedule, train number 27421 will depart from Varanasi at 8.50pm and arrive at Prayagraj Junction at 10.35pm. Following a five-minute halt, it will leave Prayagraj at 10.40pm and reach Kanpur Central at 12.40am before arriving in New Delhi at 5.55am the following day.
On the return journey, train number 27422 will depart from New Delhi at 9.40pm and reach Prayagraj at 4.45am the next day. After a five-minute halt, it will continue towards Varanasi, arriving at 6.45am.
A special rake is scheduled to depart from Varanasi at 11am on the inaugural day. The railway administration is expected to announce the final timetable for regular operations soon. Once regular services commence, the Vande Bharat Sleeper is expected to run six days a week, except on Saturdays.
Vande Bharat Sleeper fares: How much will tickets cost?
The fare structure for Vande Bharat Sleeper trains is based on a per-passenger, per-kilometre rate.
For the third air-conditioned class (3AC), the fare is Rs 2.40 per passenger per kilometre, excluding GST. The indicative fare for a journey of 1,000km in 3AC is Rs 2,400, excluding GST.
The fare for Vande Bharat Sleeper trains ranges between Rs 2.40 and Rs 3.80 per passenger per kilometre (PKM). According to the information provided by the railways, this is lower than the fares of similar services in countries such as China, Japan and France, where the rates range from Rs 7 to Rs 20 per PKM.
The railways has said it continues to operate different categories of train services to meet the travel needs of different sections of society. These include services with lower fares for underprivileged sections as well as trains offering enhanced facilities.
The railways has also stated that Indian Railways' fares are among the lowest compared with those in other countries.
Ticket booking: No RAC provision on Vande Bharat Sleeper
Vande Bharat Sleeper trains are classified as a separate category of passenger service with an all-inclusive fare structure. There is no provision for Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) tickets on these trains.
Passengers on the waiting list can get confirmed tickets when passengers holding confirmed reservations cancel their tickets. The railways has said this arrangement allows the services to remain accessible to passengers.
Facilities and reservation quotas for passengers
The reservation arrangements include earmarked lower berths for senior citizens, female passengers aged 45 years and above, and pregnant women.
The combined quota will comprise six to seven lower berths per coach in Sleeper class, four to five lower berths per coach in air-conditioned three-tier (3AC), and three to four lower berths per coach in air-conditioned two-tier (2AC). The number of berths will depend on the number of coaches of each class in the train.
The railways has also specified reservation quotas for persons with disabilities and their attendants in mail and express trains, including Rajdhani and Shatabdi-type services.
The provisions include:- Sleeper class: Four berths, comprising two lower and two middle berths.
- 3AC/3E: Four berths, comprising two lower and two middle berths.
- Reserved second sitting (2S)/air-conditioned Chair Car (CC): Four seats in trains that have more than two coaches of the respective class.
Food and catering arrangements
The menu for the Mumbai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Sleeper is being finalised in consultation with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), according to railway officials. Regional cuisines are expected to feature on board.
The proposed sleeper configuration is intended to offer an alternative to air travel for passengers travelling between Mumbai and Bengaluru, while providing overnight connectivity on both routes.
The country's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train was flagged off by PM Narendra Modi on January 17, 2026, on the Howrah-Kamakhya route. The service covers the distance between Howrah in West Bengal and Kamakhya in Assam in around 14 hours.
The proposed Mumbai-Bengaluru and Varanasi-New Delhi services will expand the network of Vande Bharat Sleeper trains to additional routes.
The details on fares, reservation provisions and train services were provided by Union minister for railways, information & broadcasting and electronics & information technology Ashwini Vaishnaw in a reply to questions in the Lok Sabha.