Indian Railways has approved the second sleeper service for its Vande Bharat train service, which will create an alternative option for overnight travel across India. This newly sanctioned sleeper service will operate between Mumbai and Bengaluru and offer an improvement in how people travel between those two cities, with a reduced transit time compared to similar services offered currently by other railroads.
On April 5, 2026, Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw provided approval for this sleeper train service to operate between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai and KSR Bengaluru.
The new service will begin operations as the second sleeper train on this route, with service commencing in January 2026, following the successful launch of the Howrah to Guwahati (Kamakhya) sleeper service.
The Indian Railways has recently announced its second Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Mumbai and Bengaluru. In a major development in premium overnight rail travel, this train service follows the success of the inaugural train service to run on the Howrah-Guwahati corridor.
To operate this overnight service in both directions on a daily basis, Indian Railways has established two sets of trains for this purpose, with the intention of creating a strong transport connection between these two areas, and thus, a transport connection between the western and southern regions of India.
Overall, the new Vande Bharat Sleeper train will represent many advancements in luxury, comfort and safety over current long-distance trains (e.g., Rajdhani Express, etc.), thus providing an alternative option for travelling long distances in India.
The new sleeper trains consist of:
- 16 air-conditioned coaches
- Approximately 823 passengers per train
- AC1, AC2 and AC3 class (1st, 2nd and 3rd coach)
- Ergonomic sleeping berths for comfort
- Automatic opening doors and vestibules
- Improved suspension for smoother rides
- Modern bio-vacuum toilets with smart lighting
The use of different technologies, including:
- CCTV cameras
- Infotainment systems
- Kavach safety system
These are expected to improve overall passenger safety and experience on the new sleeper trains.
The introduction of the new Vande Bharat sleeper train service (operating from Mumbai to Bangalore) is forecasted to shorten travel times compared to the current Udyan Express train. Specifically, the new sleeper train will operate at semi-high speeds (180 km/h) compared with Udyan Express, which currently takes 23 hours to travel from Mumbai to Bangalore, thereby reducing overall travel times while still allowing overnight travel.
The announcement follows the huge success of the new sleeper route first introduced by the Indian Government in January 2026 running between Howrah and Guwahati (flagged by the Indian Prime Minister).
This new service will provide passengers with faster journeys, modern coaches, and improved comfort while travelling by rail. In addition to being fitted with safety devices and providing air-conditioned sleeping accommodations, this train will provide a similar level of comfort that the Rajdhani Express offers to its customers but at a reduced travel cost to the customer.
Due to high consumer interest in overnight rail travel, with many of the trains fully booked, Vande Bharat sleeper trains have quickly become the most preferred option for overnight rail travel across India.
This successful new route will assist in achieving Indian Railways’ master plan of increasing the number of sleeper trains across all major long-distance rail corridors within India.
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Plans for Expansion
The Indian Railways has planned an extensive network of Vande Bharat sleeper trains throughout the country, with the intention of operating approximately 12 sleeper trains by 2026.
There could potentially be additional corridors added to this network, including the cities of Delhi and Patna, to enhance overnight rail service in the country’s most popular overnight rail travel markets.
The Vande Bharat initiative will also introduce more sleeper routes and revolutionise the way passengers travel by rail across long distances, as it will provide them with greater speed, increased efficiency and markedly increased comfort while travelling by rail across the country.1
A New Era in Long Distance Rail Service
With this new second Vande Bharat sleeper route, the Indian Railways is embarking on a new strategy for long-distance rail travel. The new sleeper trains are designed to provide for quicker travel times, improved comfort and amenities that meet or exceed consumers’ expectations for overnight train travel, just as the Rajdhani Express has provided for their respective overnight rail travel in India.
With an increasing number of passengers, the expansion of the network and the growing popularity of the Vande Bharat sleeper trains make them a significant player in setting the standard for long-distance travel via train within India.
