Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat sleeper train likely to be launched on November 1

India's first Vande Bharat sleeper train from Kamakhya Railway Station in Guwahati, Assam to Howrah in West Bengal was launched on January 17, 2026. The train from Bengaluru to Mumbai would be second such service. | Photo Credit: File photo The Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat sleeper train is likely to be launched on November 1, coinciding with Karnataka Rajyotsava, with regular operations expected to begin the following day.The service is proposed to run six days a week, although an official notification from the Railway Board is awaited. Sources in South Western Railway (SWR) said Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is expected to flag off the service.Once introduced, it will become the first Vande Bharat sleeper train to operate in southern India, providing an overnight rail connection between two major metropolitan cities.According to a Railway Board communication accessed by The Hindu, the service was approved following the minutes of a meeting held on February 16, 2026. The Bengaluru–Mumbai service will operate as Train No. 27652, while the return journey from Mumbai will be numbered 27651.As per the proposed timetable, Train No. 27652 will leave KSR Bengaluru at 10 p.m. and reach Dharmavaram at 12.50 a.m. and Wadi at 5.05 a.m. before arriving at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai at 1.50 p.m. the next day.In the opposite direction, Train No. 27651 will depart CSMT at 10.30 p.m. and reach Wadi at 7.25 a.m. and Dharmavaram at 11.45 a.m. before terminating at KSR Bengaluru at 2.50 p.m.The route will connect important railway stations in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra.27652/27651KSR Bengaluru Dharmavaram AnantapurGuntakalRaichurWadiKalaburagi SolapurPuneKalyanMumbai CSTThe proposed operating pattern provides for the Bengaluru–Mumbai train to remain off service on Mondays and the Mumbai–Bengaluru train on Tuesdays. Two Vande Bharat sleeper trainsets will be deployed for the service, according to the Railway Board document.Solapur and Pune have been designated for watering and other terminal-related requirements.Focus on overnight travelThe new service is intended to provide a faster and more comfortable option for passengers travelling long distances overnight. Earlier, Mr. Vaishnaw had indicated that the Bengaluru–Mumbai sleeper service would be introduced soon and would mark the debut of the Vande Bharat sleeper variant in southern India.India's first commercial Vande Bharat sleeper service commenced operations on January 22, 2026, between Kamakhya in Assam and Howrah in West Bengal. Operated by the Northeast Frontier Railway, the train covers approximately 972 km in around 14 hours.Designed primarily for overnight journeys spanning 800 km to 1,200 km, Vande Bharat sleeper trains are intended to offer an alternative to conventional premium long-distance services, including Rajdhani Express trains, on selected routes.A 16-coach Vande Bharat sleeper rake accommodates 823 passengers. It comprises 11 third AC coaches with 611 berths, four second AC coaches providing 188 berths, and one first AC coach with 24 berths.The train features fully air-conditioned coaches, automatic sliding doors, CCTV surveillance, bio-vacuum toilets, sensor-operated water taps, individual reading lights, charging points, and digital passenger information display. Catering facilities will offer vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals.Safety features include the indigenous Kavach automatic train protection system and emergency talk-back facilities. The driver cabins are air-conditioned and equipped with dedicated washrooms.The final timetable and operational details are expected to be confirmed through the Railway Board's formal notification, according to officials. Published - October 20, 2026 04:38 pm IST