New Delhi: Railways will roll out two Vande Bharat Sleeper train services on the Mumbai–Bengaluru and Delhi–Varanasi routes in the next one week as part of efforts to expand its premium overnight rail travel network, The Times of India has learnt, as reported by 7Globe on Monday, October 26. Two pairs of the premium long-distance trains are scheduled for rollout, the report said.

Source: The Times of India via 7Globe

While the Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper is scheduled for inauguration on October 31, the inaugural run on the Delhi–Varanasi route is scheduled for November 1, according to the TOI report. At present, a Vande Bharat Sleeper service is in regular operation between Guwahati and Kolkata.

Source: The Times of India via 7Globe

15–16 hoursExpected Mumbai–Bengaluru sleeper journey time
About 9 hoursDelhi–Varanasi overnight journey, approximately
6 days a weekPlanned frequency for the new services

The Mumbai–Bengaluru service is planned between CSMT Mumbai and SMVT Bengaluru via Kalyan, Pune, Solapur, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Guntakal and Anantapur in about 15 hours 45 minutes according to the draft schedule, Particle News summarised, adding that railway sources say final timetables, coach makeup and catering menus remain provisional pending official confirmation. Fares will use a per-passenger, per-kilometre model, with 3AC cited at Rs 2.40 per km excluding GST and an overall sleeper range of Rs 2.40–3.80 per km, and the category will not offer RAC tickets, Particle reported.

Source: Particle News

On the Delhi–Varanasi route, the trains are numbered 27421 and 27422 and will halt at Prayagraj and Kanpur Central, Travel and Leisure Asia reported. Train 27421 is listed as leaving Varanasi at 8:50 pm and reaching New Delhi at 5:55 am, while 27422 leaves New Delhi at 9:40 pm and reaches Varanasi at 6:45 am; the service will operate six days a week, not departing New Delhi on Fridays and not departing Varanasi on Saturdays, the report said.

Source: Travel and Leisure Asia

The Mumbai–Bengaluru route would connect two major economic centres, catering to business travellers and other passengers travelling between Maharashtra and Karnataka, while the Delhi–Varanasi service would link the national capital with one of the country's key religious and tourist destinations, with the potential to benefit pilgrims, the TOI report said. Readers should treat all published timings as provisional until Indian Railways issues its final notification.

Source: The Times of India via 7Globe