Second High-Speed Rail Corridor Approved: Delhi-Varanasi Route and Schedule

Indian Railways is launching another new Vande Bharat Sleeper train. Its commencement is scheduled for tomorrow, October 31. This route will connect several major cities, running between Varanasi and Delhi.

The train's speed is 160 kilometers per hour, which will allow it to complete the journey faster than other trains. According to Indian Railways information, the trip on the Vande Bharat Sleeper from Baba Vishwanath city to the nation's capital will mark the beginning of a new experience in modern rail travel.

Dr. Shivam Sharma, CPRO of Central Broad Gauge Railway, provided details about the Sleeper Vande Bharat. He stated that the opening of this train will take place on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Varanasi station as a special train number 02527. This special service will provide passengers from Kashi, Sangam Nagari Prayagraj, the industrial city of Kanpur, historical Aligarh, and Ghaziabad with a new mode of connection to the national capital.

This special train, connecting Kashi and the national capital with modern railway amenities and sleeping experience, will add new significance to the link between these two points. Dr. Sharma specified that the special train number 02527, operating on the Banaras–New Delhi Vande Bharat Sleeper route, will depart from Banaras (BNRS) after noon at 16:15. It will arrive in Prayagraj at 18:00, at Kanpur Central station at 20:05, at Aligarh station at 23:20, depart at 23:22, arrive in Ghaziabad at midnight at 01:10, and reach New Delhi station at 2:00 AM.

The article does not contain detailed information about the train's specifications.

Preparations for the launch of India's first high-speed railway are in full swing, including work on tracks, bridges, and railway stations. The Bullet Train is expected to begin operating on the high-speed route in 2027. Transport Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on social media that India's first high-speed railway is taking concrete shape.

He detailed the railway stations being prepared for the high-speed train service, as well as the underwater tunnel. Specifically, a station is being built in Mumbai located 100 feet underground, and a 7-kilometer tunnel under the sea is being created through which the Bullet Train will pass.

The Transport Minister shared project details in a post on the social media platform Twitter (now X). He emphasized that India's first high-speed railway is no longer just an announcement; it is a 508 km construction project that is progressing at full speed. The first operation is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2027. The Bullet Train will first run on the high-speed route between Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

According to the minister's statement, construction of the high-speed railway station is underway in the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) area of Mumbai, situated about 100 feet (approximately 32 meters) below ground level. This underground station is a unique engineering achievement located in the heart of Mumbai's business district. Three levels are being prepared for this station: the platform, concourse, and service area. Six platforms are planned, each exceeding 400 meters in length.

Several kilometers from this underground station, under Thane Creek, India's first underwater railway tunnel system is being constructed using a rock-cutting machine. This is the tunnel through which the Bullet Train will travel at high speed. According to the minister, the high-speed rail corridor in Maharashtra passes through a 21 km tunnel, with 7 km of it located underwater under Thane Creek, making it India's first underwater railway tunnel system.

The post also noted that two tunnel boring machines were launched in Viroli and Savli in July 2026. These machines are among the largest ever used in India. Each machine is equipped with a 13.6-meter diameter cutter head, equivalent to the height of a four-story building. The weight of each machine exceeds 3000 tons, equivalent to approximately 500 Asian elephants. The length of each machine is 96 meters, comparable to five cricket fields.

At full speed, the Bullet Train will reach a speed of 320 kilometers per hour, and between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, it will travel at an average speed of about 300 kilometers per hour starting next year. The 508 km Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor passes through the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and includes 12 major stops. These include: Mumbai (BKC), Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bhuchar, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati.

The launch date for the second Vande Bharat sleeper train has been announced. This train will connect the IT city with Maynagari, which is good news for passengers traveling between Bangalore and Mumbai. The sleeper Vande Bharat train is expected to start running between these two cities soon.

It is projected that the journey on this 1153-kilometer route will take about 16 hours, compared to 22 to 24 hours or even more on existing trains. According to railway sources, the new train is planned to begin operations on November 1. This information was also published by the official account of the Bharatiya Janata Party on X (formerly Twitter), which stated the commencement of the Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Bangalore and Mumbai from November 1.

This train will be the second Vande Bharat sleeper rake in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first Vande Bharat sleeper train in January 2026. It runs between Havara and Guwahati and helped reduce travel time on that route to 6 hours. Transport Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had previously announced the launch of the new Vande Bharat sleeper train between Bangalore and Mumbai in May.

According to railway sources, the Bangalore-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper express will pass through Kalaburga. Major intermediate stops include Kalaburga, Solapur, Pun, and Kalyan. The starting station in Bangalore will be Sar M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVB), and the destination in Mumbai will be Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Station (CSMT). The launch of this train is expected to improve rail connectivity for passengers from Karnataka, Maharashtra, and other major cities along the route. The Bangalore railway station falls under the jurisdiction of the South Western Railway (SWR), while CSMT in Mumbai belongs to the Central Railway (CR).

The new Vande Bharat sleeper rake will consist of 16 coaches. It provides three types of sleeping accommodations: 3rd Class AC (11 coaches, capacity of 611 passengers), 2nd Class AC (4 coaches, capacity of 188 passengers), and First Class AC (1 coach, capacity of 24 passengers). Thus, the total number of passengers who can travel will be 823. The offering of various categories allows passengers to choose tickets according to their needs and budget.

Preliminary fares for the Bangalore-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper train for different AC categories are as follows. With meals included, the ticket price for 3rd Class AC may be around 2300 rupees, for 2nd Class AC around 3000 rupees, and for First Class AC around 3600 rupees. It should be noted that these are only indicative prices, and exact information on fares and other charges will only be clear after an official announcement by the railways.

The Mumbai-Bangalore Vande Bharat Sleeper service may operate six days a week. It is planned to organize the service so that passengers depart from Bangalore at night and arrive in Mumbai during the day the next day. According to the proposed schedule, the train will depart from Bangalore SMVT at 19:50 in the evening and arrive at Mumbai CSMT at 11:55 the following day. The return journey is scheduled to depart from Mumbai CSMT at 20:10 in the evening, arriving in Bangalore SMVT at 11:55 the next day.

The Vande Bharat Sleeper train is designed to ensure comfortable long-distance travel, with a design speed reaching 180 kilometers per hour. However, the actual speed of movement will depend on the route and the established operational system of the railway. The rake includes compartments with improved shock absorption. Porters connected to the vestibule and automatic doors will simplify passenger movement. The railway emphasized that it will provide passengers with a comfortable journey through improved suspension and soundproof coaches.

The new train will incorporate indigenous railway safety systems 'Kavach' and the 'Emergency Talk-Back System'. Furthermore, disinfection technologies will be used to maintain cleanliness, and modern control and safety systems are provided for the drivers. The external doors of the train will also be automatic. Only information provided by the railways will be considered official regarding the opening, schedule, stops, and ticket prices of the Bangalore-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper train. Currently, according to official sources, the train is expected to commence operations on November 1, 2026.