Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper set for November debut (Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)
NEW DELHI: India’s second Vande Bharat Sleeper train service, connecting Bengaluru and Mumbai, is expected to make its inaugural run on November 1, coinciding with Karnataka Rajyotsava.
South Western Railway has proposed the date for the special inaugural service, which will be the first Vande Bharat Sleeper train to operate in southern India.
The exact date for the start of regular commercial operations has not yet announced. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is expected to flag off the service.
Significant Reduction in Travel Time
The new train is projected to cover the approximately 1,118-km distance in around 16 hours. This would mark a substantial improvement over existing services such as the Udyan Express, which currently takes close to 24 hours.
Officials indicated that the service will offer a faster overnight option between the technology hub of Bengaluru and the financial capital of Mumbai, a route that has long lacked a modern, high-comfort sleeper connection.
Route and Stoppages
The planned route includes stops at Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Solapur and Kalyan before reaching Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). Some reports also mention Pune as a possible halt. The train is likely to be numbered 27651/27652.
Coach Composition and Capacity
The 16-coach trainset will consist of 11 AC three-tier coaches, four AC two-tier coaches and one AC first-class coach, providing a total of 823 berths.
Indicative fares for the journey are expected to range between Rs 2,600 and Rs 4,250, depending on the class of travel. Final fare details are yet to be released by the railways.
Features of the Vande Bharat Sleeper
Designed for semi-high-speed operations with a maximum testing speed of 180 kmph, the train incorporates several passenger-friendly upgrades.
These include ergonomically improved cushioned berths, easier access to upper berths, bio-vacuum toilets (including facilities for passengers with disabilities), automatic doors, sealed gangways, individual reading lights, charging points, CCTV surveillance and a public announcement system with visual displays.
Safety features include the indigenous KAVACH anti-collision system and regenerative braking. AC First Class coaches are expected to offer hot-water showers.
The first Vande Bharat Sleeper service, between Howrah and Kamakhya, was flagged off in January 2026 and has already reduced travel time on that route by several hours.
The Bengaluru-Mumbai service represents the next step in expanding the sleeper variant of the Vande Bharat platform across major inter-city corridors.
The introduction of the train had been delayed earlier due to the model code of conduct for Karnataka legislative council elections.
With the inaugural run now targeted for November 1, passengers can look forward to a faster, more comfortable overnight rail option once regular services commence.
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