Indian Railways has announced that it will introduce the Bengaluru‑Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper later this month, after a long delay in approvals. The new service follows the first pair of sleeper trains launched between Guwahati and Howrah earlier this year, and the Railway Board is expected to issue the formal notification in the coming weeks.
The premium train will cover the 1,400‑kilometre stretch in under 16 hours, a drastic cut from the current 24‑hour Udyan Express. Scheduled to run six days a week, the service will depart Bengaluru at 10 pm and reach Mumbai Central at 1:50 pm the next day, while the return leg leaves Mumbai at 10:30 pm and arrives in Bengaluru at 1:50 pm.
The rake will consist of 16 passenger coaches – 11 AC 3‑tier, four AC 2‑tier and one AC First Class – and is designed for speeds up to 160 km/h, with a testing speed of 180 km/h. Features include bio‑vacuum toilets, dedicated night lights, CCTV cameras, modular pantry units and regenerative braking technology.
Safety will be bolstered by the indigenous KAVACH anti‑collision system and a Centralised Coach Monitoring System that allows passengers to communicate directly with the driver. Automatic inter‑coach gangways and sealed doors will maintain clean air and temperature control throughout the journey.
For daily commuters who have long endured the 24‑hour ride, the new sleeper promises a chance to rest on a comfortable berth and arrive by midday. The service will also stop at key junctions – Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Solapur and Kalyan – linking major towns along the route.