Vande Bharat Sleeper train will run between Varanasi and Delhi starting October 31

Two new Vande Bharat sleeper trains will be introduced, operating between Mumbai and Bangalore, as well as between Varanasi and Delhi. The launch of the Mumbai-Bangalore service is scheduled for October 31, and the Varanasi-New Delhi service is set for November 1. These new trains will allow passengers to travel overnight and arrive at their destination in the morning.

The Mumbai-Bangalore route, spanning approximately 1120 kilometers, is expected to take 15 hours and 45 minutes, which would save about 6 hours and 20 minutes compared to existing express trains. According to railway plans, these new Vande Bharat sleeper trains will enhance connectivity between the states of Maharashtra-Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh-Delhi, benefiting business travelers, working people, students, pilgrims, and tourists.

Currently, a Vande Bharat sleeper train operates in the country between Havala and Kamakha, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 17, 2026, and takes approximately 14 hours.

The proposed Mumbai-Bangalore Vande Bharat train will run from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai to Sar M Visveshwara Terminus (SMVT) in Bangalore. Along the way, the train will stop at Kalyan, Pune, Solapur, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Guntakal, and Anantpur. Two Vande Bharat Sleeper sets are planned for this route. Trials have been conducted on the train at speeds up to 160 kilometers per hour, but the official schedule and other details are yet to be confirmed.

According to the tentative schedule, the train will depart from CSMT in Mumbai at 20:10 and arrive at SMVT in Bangalore the next day at 11:55. The return journey starts from SMVT in Bangalore at 19:50 and arrives at CSMT in Mumbai the following day at 11:55.

The second proposed Vande Bharat sleeper service will connect Varanasi and New Delhi, passing through Prayagraj and Kanpur to reach the capital. This will provide an additional option for passengers traveling overnight between eastern Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. In addition to the Humsafar Express, Shiv Ganga Express, and Prayagraj Express, this new train will now be available for pilgrims, tourists, working people, and students traveling to Varanasi.

According to the preliminary schedule, train number 27421 will depart from Varanasi station at 20:50. It will arrive at Prayagraj station at 22:35, stop for 5 minutes, and depart at 22:40. The train will then reach Kanpur Central at 00:40 the next night and arrive at New Delhi railway station at 05:55 in the morning. Conversely, train number 27422 will depart from New Delhi railway station at 21:40. It will arrive in Prayagraj the following morning at 04:45, stop there for 5 minutes, and then proceed to Varanasi, arriving at Varanasi station at 06:45 in the morning. This train is expected to run 6 days a week, excluding Saturdays. The railway company still needs to officially announce the final schedule.

The ticket price on the Vande Bharat Sleeper train is determined based on the per-passenger per-kilometer rate. The cost varies from 2.40 to 3.80 rupees per passenger per kilometer depending on the class. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw provided information on fares, booking, and services of the trains during question-and-answer sessions in the Lok Sabha. According to the railway, the ticket price in Third AC (3AC) class is 2.40 rupees per passenger per kilometer, excluding GST. Thus, the estimated cost for a 1000-kilometer journey would be 2400 rupees before adding GST. The railway notes that it operates trains of various categories catering to different passenger needs, including both low-cost services and premium trains with enhanced amenities.

In the Vande Bharat Sleeper trains, the Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) facility will not be available. However, if a passenger with a confirmed ticket cancels their ticket, waiting list passengers may be confirmed. These trains provide reserved lower berths for senior citizens, women over 45 years old, and pregnant women. The number of such berths will be determined according to the coach category. In the sleeper class: 6 to 7 lower berths per coach. In Third AC (3AC): 4 to 5 lower berths per coach. In Second AC (2AC): 3 to 4 lower berths per coach. This number depends on the type of coaches and the available facilities on the train.

The railway also announced the availability of a booking system for passengers with disabilities and their assistants. Four seats are reserved in the sleeper class, including two lower and two middle berths. Four seats are also provided in Third AC (3AC) and Third AC Economy (3E). Four seats are reserved in Second Sitting (2S) and AC Chair Car (CC) if the train has more than two coaches of the corresponding class.

In the Vande Bharat Mumbai-Bangalore and Varanasi-New Delhi trains...

In India, railway journeys are often associated with pleasant memories, whether it is a trip to relatives or a family vacation. However, there is a train that covers a distance of about 4000 kilometers and requires more than three days to complete the route.

This train is called the Vivek Express. It runs from Dibrugarh in Assam to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, passing through many states, cities, and cultures during its long journey. This trip is especially interesting for those who love long train rides and want to see the diversity of India from the inside.

The Vivek Express route, connecting Dibrugarh and Kanyakumari, is approximately 4200 kilometers long and takes about 74 hours, which is more than three days. Nevertheless, sometimes due to various circumstances, the train may not arrive at the station on schedule. During such a long journey, passengers can observe different sights of India from the window: from vast tea plantations to the hustle and bustle of large urban centers. The change in weather, languages, culinary traditions, and lifestyle makes this trip special.

Content creator Mamta Yadav and her team took a trip from Dibrugarh to Kanyakumari and back to experience this long route. Although the scenic views were the main attraction, the large crowd of passengers in the general compartment created several difficulties. The video shows severe overcrowding in the general compartment, which can cause problems with finding a seat and moving around inside the carriage. Additionally, there were inconveniences related to the cleanliness of the toilets.

The team spent the first two days in the general compartment and the remaining two days in an air-conditioned compartment. In the general compartment, seats are primarily taken by arriving passengers, so finding a comfortable spot on such a long journey can be a serious problem.

The Vivek Express was launched as part of the railway budget announcement in the 2011–2012 period. This train is named in honor of commemorating the 150th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

Besides Dibrugarh and Kanyakumari, this train passes through a number of important stations on its extended route, including cities such as Guwahati, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, and Thiruvananthapuram. The train makes stops at approximately 59 stations along the entire route.

Indian Railways has made an important announcement for the residents of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In connection with upcoming holidays, 11 pairs of special trains are planned to be launched, which will provide significant assistance to people living in different parts of the country, allowing them to reach their hometowns for festivals such as Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath Puja, while also increasing the chances of securing confirmed tickets.

Sarawati Chandra, DSP of East Central Railway, stated that to reduce additional load during festivals like Diwali and Chhath, the railway company is operating a series of special trains. These trains will connect major cities, including Gubbali, Bangalore, Nagpur, Udhana, Amritsar, Delhi, Gorakhpur, and Tata.

Train No. 07315/07316, running on the Gubbali-Muzaffarpur-Gubbali Special route, will operate from October 13 to November 24. It departs from Gubbali every Tuesday at 16:45 and arrives in Pune at 04:45 on Wednesday, making stops at other stations. On Thursday, it arrives in DIDDU at 08:30, then stops at Baksar, Are, Danapur, Patliputra, and Hajipur, reaching Muzaffarpur at 14:30.

The return train No. 07316 Muzaffarpur-Gubbali Special will run from October 16 to November 27 every Friday. It departs from Muzaffarpur at 08:40 and stops at Hajipur, Patliputra, Danapur, Are, Baksar, and DIDDU before arriving in Pune at 19:40 on Saturday and in Gubbali at 07:30 on Sunday.

Train No. 06581/06582, running between Yashwantpur-Saharsa-Yashwantpur (Bangalore) Special, will operate from October 11 to November 29. Train No. 06581 departs from Yashwantpur (Bangalore) every Sunday at 07:00 and passes through several stations, including DIDDU, Baksar, Ar, Danapur, Patliputra, Sonpur, Hajipur, and Muzaffarpur, arriving in Saharsa at 20:20.

Conversely, Train No. 06582 Saharsa-Yashwantpur (Bangalore) Special will operate from 14.10.2026 to 02.12.2026 on Wednesdays. It departs from Saharsa at 05:55 and stops at various stations, including Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Mansi, Khagdia, Salauna, Hasanpur Road, Samstipur, Muzaffarpur, Hajipur, Sonpur, Patliputra, Danapur, Are, and Baksar, arriving in Yashwantpur at 16:00 on Friday.

Train No. 01207/01208, running between Nagpur-Samstipur-Nagpur Special, will operate from October 21 to November 11. Train No. 01207 departs from Nagpur at 10:40 on Wednesday and stops at various stations, including Sonpur, Hajipur, and Muzaffarpur, reaching Samstipur at 23:45.

The return train No. 01208 Samstipur-Gorakhpur Special will run from 23.10.2026 to 13.11.2026 every Friday. It departs from Samstipur at 03:00 and stops at Muzaffarpur and Hajipur, arriving in Bhopal at 03:20 on Saturday and in Nagpur at 11:30.

Train No. 04640/04639, running between Chekharta (Amritsar)-Muzaffarpur-Chekharta (Amritsar) Special, will operate from October 19 to November 30. Train No. 04640 departs from Chekharta at 08:35 on Monday and stops at Amritsar, then at Bagha, Narkatiaganj, Betia, and Saguli, arriving in Muzaffarpur at 13:10.

The return train No. 04639 Muzaffarpur-Chekharta Special will run from October 20 to December 01 on Tuesdays. It departs from Muzaffarpur at 16:00 and stops at Saguli, Betia, Narkatiaganj, and Bagha before arriving in Amritsar at 21:00 the next day and in Chekharta at 21:30.

Train No. 04652/04651, running between Amritsar-Jaiyangar-Amritsar Special, will operate from October 16 to November 29. Train No. 04652 departs from Amritsar every Friday, Sunday, and Wednesday at 10:55 and stops at various stations, including Delhi, before arriving in Jaiyangar at 20:00 the next day. The return train No. 04651 Jaiyangar-Amritsar Special will operate from 18.10.2026 to 01.12.2026 every Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday. It departs from Jaiyangar at 04:15 and stops at Madubni, Darbanga, Samstipur, and Muzaffarpur, arriving in Amritsar at 15:00.

Train No. 05633/05634, running between Narangi-Gorakhpur-Narangi Special, was also mentioned, but no further details were provided in the text.