Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Launches Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Express Service

Indian Railways expanded the Vande Bharat network to include sleeper trains for overnight travel. The first Vande Bharat Sleeper service launched on the Howrah-Guwahati corridor in January 2026. A second service connected Varanasi and New Delhi starting on October 31, 2026. These routes aim to increase high-speed rail connectivity between major Indian economic hubs.

1. The new service connects Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal in Bengaluru with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai. The route passes through stations in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. The train stops at Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Yadgir, Wadi, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune, and Kalyan.

2. The service leaves SMVT Bengaluru at 7:45 p.m. and reaches CSMT Mumbai at 11:55 a.m. the next day. The return trip departs Mumbai at 8:10 p.m. and arrives in Bengaluru at noon the following day. This schedule makes the effective travel time around 16 hours.

3. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that India is currently exporting Vande Bharat train coaches and propulsion systems to Switzerland, the United States, and France. India aims to begin exporting complete Vande Bharat trains within four years.

4. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced plans for a Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Bengaluru and the Hubballi region. The route will extend to Pune and Mumbai. On November 1, 2026, Vaishnaw announced these expansion goals at an inaugural event.

1. The inaugural special train stopped at Hindupur, Dharmavaram, and Lonavala. These stations lie outside the regular route. The standard path includes Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Yadgir, and Wadi. The line also serves Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune, and Kalyan. These additional stops serve as government publicity stunts rather than practical additions to the designated list.

2. The service runs six days a week. The train operates six days a week. It does not depart Bengaluru on Mondays or Mumbai on Tuesdays.

3. Indian Railways plans to launch a Vande Bharat service between Bengaluru and Mangaluru. The launch date depends on the completion of electrification and testing. Government projects often face delays that push actual plans back by months or years.