A file photo of a Vande Bharat Sleeper Express train.
The Railway Board has approved the introduction of a Vande Bharat Sleeper Express between KSR Bengaluru and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai, and is likely to start operations from this month, according to officials.
The service, numbered 27652 from KSR Bengaluru to CSMT and 27651 in the return direction, has been approved based on the minutes of a meeting held on February 16, 2026, as per the Railway Board communication accessed by The Hindu.
As per the proposed schedule, Train 27652 will depart KSR Bengaluru at 10 p.m. and reach Dharmavaram at 12.50 a.m., Wadi at 5.05 a.m. and CSMT at 1.50 p.m. the following day.
In the return direction, Train 27651 will depart CSMT at 10.30 p.m., reach Wadi at 7.25 a.m., Dharmavaram at 11.45 a.m. and arrive at KSR Bengaluru at 2.50 p.m. The train will have stoppages at Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune and Kalyan, in addition to its originating and terminating stations.
The service is proposed to operate six days a week. The Bengaluru-Mumbai service will operate except on Mondays, while the Mumbai-Bengaluru service will operate except on Tuesdays.
The Railway Board document states that the service will use two Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets. Solapur and Pune have been identified for watering and other associated terminal-related arrangements.
The board has also directed the railway zones concerned to take necessary action for introducing the service at an early convenient date. It has suggested that, if required, the inaugural train could initially be operated as a special service and subsequently integrated into the regular timetable.
The proposed sleeper service would provide an overnight rail connection between Bengaluru and Mumbai, with the journey covering major cities and railway hubs across Karnataka and Maharashtra. Earlier, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had indicated that the Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper service was expected to be introduced soon and this would be the first Vande Bharat Sleeper for South India.
Sleeper train
Nearly six years after India introduced its first Vande Bharat Express in 2019, the country’s first commercial Vande Bharat Sleeper service began operations on January 22, 2026. Operated by the Northeast Frontier Railway, the inaugural service runs between Kamakhya in Guwahati and Howrah, covering around 972 km in approximately 14 hours.
Designed primarily for overnight journeys on routes ranging between 800 km and 1,200 km, the Vande Bharat Sleeper is intended to offer faster travel and improved passenger comfort on long-distance routes. The new service is also expected to gradually serve as an alternative to conventional premium overnight trains, including the Rajdhani Express, on select corridors.
A 16-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper train comprises 11 Third AC (3AC) coaches, four Second AC (2AC) coaches and one First AC (1AC) coach, providing accommodation for 823 passengers. The train has 611 berths in 3AC, 188 in 2AC and 24 in 1AC.
The fully air-conditioned train incorporates a range of modern amenities aimed at enhancing passenger convenience and safety. These include automatic sliding doors, CCTV surveillance, bio-vacuum toilets, sensor-based water taps, individual reading lights, mobile charging points and digital passenger information displays. Onboard catering is also available, with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meal options.
For enhanced safety, the train is equipped with the indigenous Kavach automatic train protection system, along with emergency talk-back facilities. The driver cabins are fully air-conditioned and feature dedicated washrooms.
Published – October 02, 2026 07:51 pm IST
