Indian Railways plans to introduce a second Vande Bharat sleeper train for long-distance travel. The first Vande Bharat sleeper train operates on the Hauzdara – Chamakharia route and has received positive feedback from passengers.
The launch of the second Vande Bharat sleeper train is currently being prepared, which will operate between New Delhi and Varanasi.
According to the proposed schedule, the train will depart from Varanasi Cantt at 21:20 and arrive in New Delhi around 5 am the next day. This means the journey will take only 8 hours. The return route will have the same schedule: departure from New Delhi at 21:20 and arrival in Varanasi at 5 am the following day.
This will allow passengers to spend the night comfortably and reach their destination early in the morning.
The maximum speed of the train is expected to be 130 kilometers per hour. However, the final schedule and other operational details will only be known after an official announcement by the railway, as the presented data is only preliminary.
According to media reports, the ticket price for Vande Bharat sleeper trains may be slightly higher than for Rajasthan or Tejas Express trains. The cost of these trains usually starts at approximately 960 rupees for Three-Tier AC and can be higher in higher classes (First AC). The final price will be announced after the railway's official decision.
Although there is no official statement yet, estimates suggest that given the high demand, the train could be launched by Diwali. The total capacity of the train will be 800 passengers. The train composition may include 11 three-tier AC coaches, 4 two-tier AC coaches, and 1 first-class coach.