Ashwini Vaishnaw will flag off the Bengaluru‑Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper on November 1, 2026, during Karnataka Rajyotsava, marking the first sleeper Vande Bharat service in southern India.
The 1,118‑km journey will be carried by a 16‑coach rake that includes 11 AC three‑tier, four AC two‑tier and one AC First‑Class coach, providing 823 berths and cutting travel time from the current 24 hours down to about 16 hours.
Scheduled timings for the special run are a 10 PM departure from KSR Bengaluru and a 1:50 PM arrival at Mumbai CSMT the next day; the return leg would leave CSMT at 10:30 PM and reach Bengaluru at 2:50 PM, though the exact schedule is still being finalised.
The train will pass through Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Solapur and Kalyan before reaching its terminus, linking key commercial hubs in the corridor.
Designed for speeds up to 160 km/h, the rake will be fitted with the indigenous KAVACH anti‑collision system, regenerative braking, automatic doors and fully sealed gangways, while onboard amenities include bio‑vacuum toilets, showers in AC First and dedicated night‑lights.
The launch comes after a delay caused by the Karnataka legislative council elections; fare ranges are expected to be between ₹2,600 and ₹4,250, but final details will be disclosed once regular commercial operations commence.
"A daily commuter from Bengaluru to Mumbai, 45‑year‑old Manish Kumar, said he looks forward to the shorter trip, hoping it will let him spend more time with his family," said Kumar, who has travelled the 24‑hour route for the past decade.
Railway officials confirmed that the special run will serve as a showcase for the new sleeper Vande Bharat, with a full commercial launch slated for a later date after the March 2027 timetable is released.