Indian Railways to launch Mumbai-Bengaluru and Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat sleeper trains

Indian Railways is rolling out two new Vande Bharat sleeper train services within the next week, expanding its semi-high-speed rail infrastructure across major commercial and pilgrimage routes.

The service between Bengaluru and Mumbai is scheduled for inauguration on 31 October, followed by the inaugural run of the Delhi-Varanasi service on 1 November. The new trains build on the rollout of India's long-distance sleeper network, following the operation of the first sleeper service between Guwahati and Kolkata.

Modernising key travel corridors

The Mumbai-Bengaluru route connects two of western and southern India’s largest economic centres. Designed to cater to business travellers and regular commuters moving between Maharashtra and Karnataka, the service is expected to complete the journey in around 15 to 16 hours.

On the northern corridor, the Delhi-Varanasi sleeper service will link the national capital directly to one of India’s central cultural and tourist destinations. The train will operate as an overnight service, running via major urban transit hubs including Kanpur and Prayagraj.

Strengthening national rail infrastructure

The introduction of sleeper variants to the Vande Bharat fleet represents a major step forward in modernising Indian Railways' passenger operations. By introducing higher speeds, modern amenities, and smoother overnight transit, the government is continuing to upgrade the country's public transport network across critical high-density lines.