Vande Bharat Sleeper: Good news for railway lovers. The South Western Railway (SWR) has introduced two ‘Vande Bharat’ sleeper trains for the Bengaluru-Mumbai route to reduce travel time between the two cities. These 16-coach trains will operate during the night, cutting the journey down to approximately 16 hours, compared to the usual 24 hours taken by other trains.

Manufactured by BEML in Bengaluru under the supervision of the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, the trains have undergone rigorous testing and inspection. According to Bengaluru Divisional Railway Manager Ashutosh Kumar Singh, preparations for the launch are underway, and a timetable will be released soon.

Know The Fare

The train will consist of 11 3AC coaches, four 2AC coaches, and one 1AC coach, with an estimated 3AC fare of around Rs 3,000, inclusive of meals onboard. Running through the Kalyana region in Karnataka, the route will pass through Raichur, Yadgir, and Kalaburagi, spanning 1,137 km of fully electrified and double-tracked railway. Operating at speeds of up to 130 km/h on most sections, the service aims to bridge the gap between Bengaluru and Mumbai efficiently.

While there were suggestions to route the train via Hubli for better connectivity to remote parts of Karnataka, the decision to opt for the Kalyana-Karnataka route was made due to its shorter distance, electrification, and double-tracking, allowing for higher speeds. The launch date and final schedule for the service will be announced shortly.

According to Bengaluru Divisional Railway Manager Ashutosh Kumar Singh, the railway is preparing for the train’s launch and a timetable will be released soon. Trial runs will be conducted on the approved route to assess the train’s potential journey time and also to conduct speed trials by the Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO).

The Bengaluru- Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper service is expected to operate on a proposed route through the Kalyana Karnataka region, including major stations like Raichur, Yadgir, and Kalaburagi. The proposed rail route is approximately 1,137 kilometers long and is fully electrified and double-tracked. Most sections of the route are capable of running trains at speeds up to 130 kilometers per hour. This is why this route is considered a promising option for fast train service.