3 weeks ago
Vande Bharat sleeper trains to offer 16-hour overnight Bengaluru-Mumbai ride
A new train called Vande Bharat sleeper is coming to India.
It will take people from Bengaluru to Mumbai while they sleep.
The ride will take about 16 hours overnight.
This is much faster than the old trains, which took nearly 24 hours.
The train will have comfortable sleeping coaches with beds.
A ticket in the cheapest sleeper class will cost around Rs 3,000, and that includes meals.
The train will pass through Raichur, Yadgir and Kalaburagi in the Kalyana Karnataka region.
Railway officials are still deciding whether it should start from KSR Bengaluru or SMVT Bengaluru station.
A test run will happen soon to check the speed of the train.
The fare will be much lower than a plane ticket, so many people may use this new service.
Vande Bharat sleeper trains will run overnight between Bengaluru and Mumbai, covering the 1,137 km route in around 16 hours.
The train will have 11 3AC coaches, four 2AC coaches and one 1AC coach, with the 3AC fare expected to be around Rs 3,000 including onboard meals.
The route runs through Raichur, Yadgir and Kalaburagi in the Kalyana Karnataka region and is fully electrified and doubled, supporting speeds up to 130 km/h.
The Hubballi route was not considered because it would cover a longer distance of 1,216 km and include single-track sections and stretches with speed restrictions.
A trial run will be conducted shortly on the approved route, with speed trials facilitated by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO); the timetable will be notified soon.
- Who
- Indian Railways officials, including Divisional Railway Manager Ashutosh Kumar Singh and Additional Divisional Railway Manager (Operations) Parikshit Mohanpuria, announced the plans.
- What
- A Vande Bharat sleeper train service offering an overnight 16-hour ride between Bengaluru and Mumbai.
- Where
- Between Bengaluru and Mumbai via Raichur, Yadgir and Kalaburagi in the Kalyana Karnataka region; possible Bengaluru terminals are KSR Bengaluru or SMVT Bengaluru.
- When
- A launch is being prepared and the timetable will be notified soon; a trial run will be conducted shortly, though no exact date was given.
- Why
- To provide a faster and more comfortable rail link between Bengaluru and Mumbai, meeting a long-standing demand for a quicker connection in the region.
Public representatives and railway activists
Railway authorities
Choice of route for the Vande Bharat sleeper
Public representatives and railway activists
Demanded the train operate via Hubballi to better serve Karnataka's hinterland.
Railway authorities
Chose the Kalyana Karnataka route instead, as the Hubballi route would cover a longer 1,216 km distance with single-track sections and speed restrictions.
Key facts
- Route
- Bengaluru–Mumbai via Raichur, Yadgir and Kalaburagi
- Distance
- 1,137 km (fully electrified and doubled)
- Journey time
- Around 16 hours overnight
- Coach configuration
- 11 3AC, 4 2AC and 1 1AC coach
- Expected 3AC fare
- Around Rs 3,000 including onboard meals
- Maximum speed
- Up to 130 km/h on most sections
- Existing services
- Udyan Express and SMVT Bengaluru–LTT Mumbai Express take nearly 24 hours
- Possible Bengaluru terminals
- KSR Bengaluru or Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) Bengaluru
Quotes
Ashutosh Kumar Singh
Divisional Railway Manager, Bengaluru
“The fare will be considerably lower than plane tickets. We’re confident that the service will be a hit.”
businesstoday.in
“We’re getting ready for the launch and the timetable will be notified soon.”
businesstoday.in
Sources
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