Mumbai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Sleeper to begin operations on November 1

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The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now. Read Today's Paper Mumbai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Sleeper to begin operations on November 1ET BureauLast Updated: Oct 22, 2026, 05:32:00 PM ISTSynopsis

India will launch its second Vande Bharat sleeper train service between Mumbai and Bengaluru on November 1. This service aims to reduce travel time by nearly eight hours, covering the 1,118-km distance in about 16 hours. The train will feature 16 air-conditioned coaches, offering 823 berths for passengers' comfort. Fares for the sleeper service will be determined based on a per-kilometer structure, which is competitive with global rates.

India’s second Vande Bharat sleeper train service between Mumbai and Bengaluru will commence on November 1, coinciding with Karnataka Rajyotsava, Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti V Somanna announced on Thursday. The BJP described the launch as a "Diwali gift" for people of Karnataka and Maharashtra.

The new service will cover the 1,118-km route in about 16 hours, cutting travel time by nearly eight hours, Somanna said in a post on X.

The train will comprise 16 fully air-conditioned coaches and offer 823 berths, providing passengers with a premium overnight travel experience. Describing it as a symbol of speed, comfort and world-class engineering, Somanna said the service reflects Indian Railways’ continuing focus on modernisation.

Somanna, who represents Tumakuru in the Lok Sabha, said the launch marks a significant addition to the country’s expanding Vande Bharat network. The first Vande Bharat sleeper service was introduced between Howrah and Kamakhya in January this year.

According to a written reply by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Lok Sabha in March, fares for Vande Bharat sleeper trains are calculated on a per passenger-per kilometre basis. For AC 3-tier travel, the fare is Rs 2.40 per km, excluding GST. Based on this structure, the indicative fare for a 1,000-km journey works out to around Rs 2,400, excluding taxes. The minister had also stated that Vande Bharat sleeper trains do not offer Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) tickets.

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The fare ranges from Rs 2.40 to Rs 3.80 per km, which the Railways says is lower than fares for comparable services in countries such as China, Japan and France, where rates are estimated to range between Rs 7 and Rs 20 per km.

Indian Railways provided passenger fare subsidies of Rs 60,239 crore in 2024-25, translating into an average concession of 43% for travellers, according to the minister.
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Read More News onMumbai Bengaluru Vande Bharat sleeper trainVande Bharat sleeper serviceKarnataka RajyotsavaUnion Minister V SomannaIndian Railways modernisationfares for Vande Bharat trainspremium overnight travel experiencetravel time reductionRailway Minister Ashwini Vaishnawsubsidies for passenger fares

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Read More News onMumbai Bengaluru Vande Bharat sleeper trainVande Bharat sleeper serviceKarnataka RajyotsavaUnion Minister V SomannaIndian Railways modernisationfares for Vande Bharat trainspremium overnight travel experiencetravel time reductionRailway Minister Ashwini Vaishnawsubsidies for passenger fares

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