November 4, 05:18Aaj Tak

Approval granted to launch Vande Bharat high-speed train between Goa and Bangalore

Passengers traveling from Bangalore to Goa will receive a new option for rail travel. The Railway Board has approved the launch of a new Vande Bharat express on the Yashwanpur-Madgaon route. This train will run through Mangaluru and connect many important cities in Karnataka with coastal areas. The train will operate in both directions six days a week. The journey time from Yashwanpur to Madgaon will be 13 hours and 20 minutes, and the return journey will take 12 hours and 55 minutes.

The Railway Board approved the launch of the Yashwanpur-Madgaon Vande Bharat express in a letter dated October 30, 2026, under numbers 26655/26656. The train will travel from Yashwanpur station in Bangalore to Madgaon in Goa. This rake was manufactured by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) using Integral Coach Factory (ICF) technologies in Chennai. It is expected that this will improve rail connectivity between Karnataka and Goa.

The new Vande Bharat express will pass through Mangaluru Junction and stop at 12 stations between Yashwanpur and Madgaon. These stops include Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabaka Puttur, Mangaluru Junction, Udupi, Kundapura, Mukambika Road Bindur, Murudeshwar, Gokarna Road, and Karwar. Thanks to this route, passengers traveling between Bangalore and Goa will be able to use Vande Bharat services during the day.

Train number 26655 will depart from Yashwanpur at 7:35 AM and arrive in Madgaon at 8:55 PM, taking 13 hours and 20 minutes. The schedule of stops on this route is as follows: Shravanabelagola — from 09:03 to 09:05, Hassan — from 09:38 to 09:40, Sakleshpur — from 10:20 to 10:22, Subrahmanya Road — from 12:40 to 12:42, Kabaka Puttur — from 13:25 to 13:27, Mangaluru Junction — from 15:05 to 15:15, Udupi — from 16:20 to 16:22, Kundapura — from 16:38 to 16:40, Mukambika Road Bindur — from 17:20 to 17:22, Murudeshwar — from 18:00 to 18:02, Gokarna Road — from 19:00 to 19:02, Karwar — from 19:45 to 19:47.

Return, train number 26656 will depart from Madgaon at 8:20 AM and arrive in Yashwanpur at 9:15 PM, taking 12 hours and 55 minutes. The stopping schedule for the return direction is as follows: Karwar — from 09:03 to 09:05, Gokarna Road — from 09:48 to 09:50, Murudeshwar — from 11:00 to 11:02, Mukambika Road Bindur — from 11:20 to 11:22, Kundapura — from 11:48 to 11:50, Udupi — from 12:18 to 12:20, Mangaluru Junction — from 13:50 to 14:00, Kabaka Puttur — from 14:43 to 14:45, Subrahmanya Road — from 15:28 to 15:30, Sakleshpur — from 17:30 to 17:32, Hassan — from 18:13 to 18:15, Shravanabelagola — from 18:43 to 18:45.

The new train will operate in both directions six days a week. However, the Yashwanpur to Madgaon train will not run on Wednesdays, and the Madgaon to Yashwanpur train will not run on Thursdays. Thus, passengers can use this service on the remaining days of the week. Nevertheless, the railway has not yet announced the exact date of regular operation for the train.

With the launch of the new train 20645/20646 Madgaon-Mangaluru Central Vande Bharat Express, the existing Vande Bharat Express will be discontinued. The Railway Board also notified the cessation of this train's service. That is, after the new Vande Bharat service starts on this route, the Yashwanpur-Madgaon train will replace the existing line.

The electrification of the mountain section has enabled the movement of high-speed electric trains on this route. Previously, the Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that a Vande Bharat train could now be launched on this route up to Mangaluru. Work on the electrification of the Bangalore-Mangaluru railway line began in December 2023 and was completed in December 2025. A trial run using an electric engine was conducted on December 28, 2025. As part of the project, five switching stations were built and an overhead electrification system was installed along the entire route. To ensure safety, the maximum distance between traction poles was set at 67.5 meters.

The new Yashwanpur-Madgaon Vande Bharat will provide direct connectivity for passengers traveling between Bangalore and Goa, as well as for residents of cities such as Hassan, Sakleshpur, Mangaluru, Udupi, and Karwar. Since the train will run during the day and reach its destination on the same day in both directions, passengers are left to await the next announcement from the railway regarding the start date and ticket booking.

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www.aajtak.inOctober 30, 14:04

High-speed Vande Bharat Sleeper train starts service between Varanasi and Delhi tomorrow

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.

www.aajtak.inOctober 29, 07:17

Vande Bharat Sleeper train will run between Varanasi and Delhi starting October 31

The long-awaited journey between New Delhi and Varanasi is set to become a reality: the 'Vande Bharat Sleeper' train will start operating on these routes from October 31. The grand opening ceremony will be jointly conducted by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. This fully air-conditioned rake will accommodate 823 passengers across 16 coaches.

According to railway services, the train's inauguration is scheduled for October 31. On the same day, two MEMU trains will also depart between Varanasi-Prayagraj Rambagh and Varanasi City-Raja Talab. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will attend the opening.

On the launch day, the train will depart from Varanasi at 16:30. It is expected to arrive in New Delhi at 01:30 the following night. It should be noted that the schedule for the inaugural run differs from the regular service timetable.

As per the schedule approved by the Railway Board, train number 27421 will depart from Varanasi at 20:50, arriving in New Delhi at 05:55 AM. The return journey, train number 27422, will leave New Delhi at 21:40 and arrive in Varanasi at 06:45 AM. This rake will operate every day of the week except Saturdays.

The route between Delhi and Varanasi includes three intermediate stops: Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, and Chhipiana Budhgarh. This allows passengers traveling from Delhi to Varanasi, or from these stations, to utilize the train's services.

The train consists of 16 coaches, offering 823 sleeping berths. All coaches are equipped with a full air conditioning system. The types of coaches include 1 First AC coach, 4 AC 2-Tier coaches, and 11 AC 3-Tier coaches, allowing passengers to choose a class of service according to their needs and budget.

To ensure a comfortable long journey, each compartment is equipped with individual reading lamps, three-pin power sockets, and USB Type-A and Type-C charging ports. Furthermore, the train features LED lighting, large windows, ample luggage space, and onboard Wi-Fi access.

The First AC coach offers the facility of a hot shower. To ensure the best service during the long journey, the rake also includes separate staff quarters. According to railway representatives, the goal of all these enhancements is to maintain high service quality and passenger convenience.

Currently, official information regarding fares for the 'Vande Bharat Sleeper' train between New Delhi and Varanasi has not been published as the commercial circular has not yet been released. However, given the level of services provided, it is anticipated that ticket prices will be higher than those of other trains on this route. Passengers must await an official announcement on prices for various categories.

This route will be the second for the 'Vande Bharat Sleeper' train. Prime Minister Narendra Modi previously launched the first pair of such trains on the Kamakha-Haudra route in January. On that route, it was noted that the cost of the 'Vande Bharat Sleeper' was significantly higher than the Saraighat express: 72% higher in AC 3-Tier, 58% higher in AC 2-Tier, and 16% higher in First AC. The launch of the second train on the Delhi-Varanasi line will provide passengers with an additional option for overnight travel.

www.aajtak.inOctober 28, 06:34

Launch of two new Vande Bharat trains: routes, schedule, stops, and ticket prices

Two new Vande Bharat sleeper trains will be introduced, operating between Mumbai and Bangalore, as well as between Varanasi and Delhi. The launch of the Mumbai-Bangalore service is scheduled for October 31, and the Varanasi-New Delhi service is set for November 1. These new trains will allow passengers to travel overnight and arrive at their destination in the morning.

The Mumbai-Bangalore route, spanning approximately 1120 kilometers, is expected to take 15 hours and 45 minutes, which would save about 6 hours and 20 minutes compared to existing express trains. According to railway plans, these new Vande Bharat sleeper trains will enhance connectivity between the states of Maharashtra-Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh-Delhi, benefiting business travelers, working people, students, pilgrims, and tourists.

Currently, a Vande Bharat sleeper train operates in the country between Havala and Kamakha, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 17, 2026, and takes approximately 14 hours.

The proposed Mumbai-Bangalore Vande Bharat train will run from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai to Sar M Visveshwara Terminus (SMVT) in Bangalore. Along the way, the train will stop at Kalyan, Pune, Solapur, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Guntakal, and Anantpur. Two Vande Bharat Sleeper sets are planned for this route. Trials have been conducted on the train at speeds up to 160 kilometers per hour, but the official schedule and other details are yet to be confirmed.

According to the tentative schedule, the train will depart from CSMT in Mumbai at 20:10 and arrive at SMVT in Bangalore the next day at 11:55. The return journey starts from SMVT in Bangalore at 19:50 and arrives at CSMT in Mumbai the following day at 11:55.

The second proposed Vande Bharat sleeper service will connect Varanasi and New Delhi, passing through Prayagraj and Kanpur to reach the capital. This will provide an additional option for passengers traveling overnight between eastern Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. In addition to the Humsafar Express, Shiv Ganga Express, and Prayagraj Express, this new train will now be available for pilgrims, tourists, working people, and students traveling to Varanasi.

According to the preliminary schedule, train number 27421 will depart from Varanasi station at 20:50. It will arrive at Prayagraj station at 22:35, stop for 5 minutes, and depart at 22:40. The train will then reach Kanpur Central at 00:40 the next night and arrive at New Delhi railway station at 05:55 in the morning. Conversely, train number 27422 will depart from New Delhi railway station at 21:40. It will arrive in Prayagraj the following morning at 04:45, stop there for 5 minutes, and then proceed to Varanasi, arriving at Varanasi station at 06:45 in the morning. This train is expected to run 6 days a week, excluding Saturdays. The railway company still needs to officially announce the final schedule.

The ticket price on the Vande Bharat Sleeper train is determined based on the per-passenger per-kilometer rate. The cost varies from 2.40 to 3.80 rupees per passenger per kilometer depending on the class. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw provided information on fares, booking, and services of the trains during question-and-answer sessions in the Lok Sabha. According to the railway, the ticket price in Third AC (3AC) class is 2.40 rupees per passenger per kilometer, excluding GST. Thus, the estimated cost for a 1000-kilometer journey would be 2400 rupees before adding GST. The railway notes that it operates trains of various categories catering to different passenger needs, including both low-cost services and premium trains with enhanced amenities.

In the Vande Bharat Sleeper trains, the Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) facility will not be available. However, if a passenger with a confirmed ticket cancels their ticket, waiting list passengers may be confirmed. These trains provide reserved lower berths for senior citizens, women over 45 years old, and pregnant women. The number of such berths will be determined according to the coach category. In the sleeper class: 6 to 7 lower berths per coach. In Third AC (3AC): 4 to 5 lower berths per coach. In Second AC (2AC): 3 to 4 lower berths per coach. This number depends on the type of coaches and the available facilities on the train.

The railway also announced the availability of a booking system for passengers with disabilities and their assistants. Four seats are reserved in the sleeper class, including two lower and two middle berths. Four seats are also provided in Third AC (3AC) and Third AC Economy (3E). Four seats are reserved in Second Sitting (2S) and AC Chair Car (CC) if the train has more than two coaches of the corresponding class.

In the Vande Bharat Mumbai-Bangalore and Varanasi-New Delhi trains...