Indian Railways is preparing to launch its second sleeper Vande Bharat Express, connecting New Delhi and Varanasi via Kanpur and Prayagraj. According to reports from The Times of India, the trial run is expected to take place this month, with railway officials reportedly considering introducing the service before Diwali. The overnight semi-high-speed service will operate at speeds between 130 and 160 kmph, depending on track conditions and the Mission Raftaar project progress. The higher operating speed is expected to reduce the travel time between Delhi, Prayagraj and Varanasi, offering passengers a faster travel option on this route.
As per the proposed schedule, the sleeper Vande Bharat will depart Varanasi Cantt at 9:20 pm and reach Prayagraj at 10:45 pm. The train will then arrive at Kanpur Central at 12:35 am before reaching New Delhi at 5 am. On the return journey, the train is scheduled to depart from New Delhi at 9:20 pm and reach Varanasi at 5 am. The route will include four key railway stations: New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS), Kanpur Central Railway Station (CNB), Prayagraj Junction Railway Station (PRYJ), and Varanasi Junction/Cantt Railway Station (BSB). The final timings may change depending on the outcome of the trial run and the required operational clearances.
The sleeper Vande Bharat Express will feature 16 coaches with space for up to 823 passengers. The train will include 11 third-AC coaches, four second-AC coaches and one first-AC coach to cater to different passenger requirements. According to PTI, the sleeper Vande Bharat trainsets are being manufactured as part of an India-Russia joint venture between Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and Russian company Transmashholding (TMH). The two companies have formed Kinnet Railway Solutions Limited, which is set to manufacture 120 Vande Bharat sleeper trainsets, each comprising 16 coaches, at its factory in Marathwada, Maharashtra. The train will also feature modern amenities associated with Vande Bharat services, while its primary maintenance is expected to be handled by Northern Railway.
Praveen Patel, a member of the Regional Rail Users' Consultative Committee (ZRUCC), NCR, and a Member of Parliament, stated that the launch of the indigenously developed sleeper train would strengthen rail connectivity between Delhi, Prayagraj and Varanasi while making journeys more convenient for passengers. The indigenously developed sleeper Vande Bharat would make travel between Prayagraj, Varanasi and Delhi more convenient and reduce the effective travel time. Meanwhile, South Western Railway's Mysuru Division has started field trials of a Vande Bharat Express equipped with an automatic emergency braking system on the challenging Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road Ghat section. The trials are aimed at evaluating whether the semi-high-speed train can safely operate on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru route. The proposed Delhi-Varanasi service would be the second sleeper Vande Bharat operation planned by Indian Railways, following the Howrah-Kamakhya route. The Railway Board is yet to announce the train number, fare and regular service date, with the final schedule and operating speed depending on the results of the trial and subsequent operational approvals.
