/images/ppid_59c68470-image-179385252805849206.webp)
What is the story about?
India’s Vande Bharat Sleeper network is expanding, with new overnight services connecting Varanasi with Delhi and Bengaluru with Mumbai. The trains promise air-conditioned berths, onboard catering and modern passenger amenities. But what does a journey actually offer, how much does a ticket cost, and what should passengers know before booking?
There is also a passenger complaint about one feature that could make a difference to overnight travel: repeated announcements at stations.
Here is a look at the routes currently in service, ticket prices, food, facilities and the next services announced by the Railways.
Which Vande Bharat Sleeper trains are running?
Three routes are now part of the Vande Bharat Sleeper network:
1. Howrah–Kamakhya
This was the first Vande Bharat Sleeper service to be introduced. Regular operations began on January 22, 2026. The train connects Howrah in West Bengal with Kamakhya in Assam, providing an overnight connection between eastern and northeastern India.
2. Varanasi–New Delhi
The second service was flagged off on October 31, 2026. Train number 27421 leaves Varanasi at 8:50 pm and reaches New Delhi at 6:10 am the following day.
In the return direction, train number 27422 leaves New Delhi at 9:40 pm and arrives in Varanasi at 7:10 am.
The train stops at Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, Aligarh and Ghaziabad. It runs six days a week, except on Fridays from Varanasi and Saturdays from Delhi.
3. Bengaluru–Mumbai
The Bengaluru–Mumbai service was flagged off on November 1, 2026. The Mumbai-originating service began commercial operations on November 2, while the Bengaluru-originating service started on November 3.
Train number 27652 leaves SMVT Bengaluru at 7:45 pm and reaches Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus at 11:55 am the next day. The return service, train number 27651, leaves Mumbai at 8:10 pm and reaches Bengaluru at noon the following day.
The train stops at Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Yadgir, Wadi, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune and Kalyan. It operates six days a week, except on Mondays from Bengaluru and Tuesdays from Mumbai.
How much do Vande Bharat Sleeper tickets cost?
The Vande Bharat Sleeper trains offer three classes: Third AC (3A), Second AC (2A) and First AC (1A).
These are the reported base fares; the amount payable at the time of booking may vary depending on applicable charges and the ticket category. Passengers should check the final fare on IRCTC before making a reservation.
What food is served on board?
Food is part of the overnight travel experience, with menus designed around the route and regional preferences.
On the Varanasi–New Delhi service, the dinner menu includes jeera rice or plain rice, three chapatis or two parathas, yellow dal tadka or another dal, and a choice of paneer, a regional vegetarian preparation or chicken. Curd or buttermilk, pickle and packaged Indian sweets are also listed.
The Howrah–Kamakhya service has a regional food offering drawing on Bengali and Assamese cuisine. Dishes publicised for the route have included basanti pulao, cholar dal, labra, joha rice, matar paneer and traditional sweets.
However, the first commercial runs of the Howrah–Kamakhya train attracted complaints about food quality and quantity. Passengers posting on Reddit described missing items, overcooked rice, hard rotis and confusion over meal distribution.
Some also raised concerns about the availability of bedding and coordination among onboard staff. These were individual passenger accounts from the early days of the service, not an official assessment of catering standards.
For the newer Bengaluru–Mumbai service, passengers should check the catering details available for their specific journey while booking. Menu offerings can vary by route and service.
What facilities can passengers expect?
The sleeper trains are designed for overnight journeys and offer three classes of air-conditioned accommodation.
Among the features provided are:
The trains have a design speed of 180 kmph and an operating speed of up to 160 kmph, subject to route and infrastructure conditions.
First AC also offers a shower facility. The trains have reading lights and charging points for passengers.
Passenger complains that station announcements disrupted sleep
An overnight train is expected to offer passengers the opportunity to sleep through much of the journey. However, a passenger travelling on the first commercial run of the Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper has raised a complaint about repeated announcements at stations.
In a post on Reddit's r/indianrailways community, a passenger said loud announcements were played through the train's speakers at every stop during the night, making it difficult to sleep.
The passenger appealed to the Railways to reduce or switch off routine announcements during night hours, arguing that most travellers already know their destination and do not need repeated announcements disturbing their sleep.
Other users on the forum supported the concern. One described the request as reasonable, while another recounted being told by railway staff that the announcement system was automated and could not be switched off.
The complaint raises a practical question for overnight services: how can passengers be informed about stops without disturbing those trying to sleep? The Railways has not been cited as having issued a response to this particular complaint.
Which Vande Bharat Sleeper routes are coming next?
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced another proposed Vande Bharat Sleeper service for Karnataka. It is expected to originate in Bengaluru, connect northern parts of the state towards the Hubballi region and continue towards Pune and Mumbai.
The minister has not announced a confirmed launch date or a detailed timetable for this service.
The Railways has also announced plans for a Vande Bharat service between Bengaluru and Mangaluru. This is a separate service and should not be confused with the sleeper variant. It is expected to improve connectivity between Bengaluru and coastal Karnataka.
For now, the three sleeper routes — Howrah–Kamakhya, Varanasi–New Delhi and Bengaluru–Mumbai — are the services passengers can consider when planning an overnight Vande Bharat journey.
There is also a passenger complaint about one feature that could make a difference to overnight travel: repeated announcements at stations.
Here is a look at the routes currently in service, ticket prices, food, facilities and the next services announced by the Railways.
Which Vande Bharat Sleeper trains are running?
Three routes are now part of the Vande Bharat Sleeper network:
1. Howrah–Kamakhya
This was the first Vande Bharat Sleeper service to be introduced. Regular operations began on January 22, 2026. The train connects Howrah in West Bengal with Kamakhya in Assam, providing an overnight connection between eastern and northeastern India.
2. Varanasi–New Delhi
The second service was flagged off on October 31, 2026. Train number 27421 leaves Varanasi at 8:50 pm and reaches New Delhi at 6:10 am the following day.
In the return direction, train number 27422 leaves New Delhi at 9:40 pm and arrives in Varanasi at 7:10 am.
The train stops at Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, Aligarh and Ghaziabad. It runs six days a week, except on Fridays from Varanasi and Saturdays from Delhi.
3. Bengaluru–Mumbai
The Bengaluru–Mumbai service was flagged off on November 1, 2026. The Mumbai-originating service began commercial operations on November 2, while the Bengaluru-originating service started on November 3.
Train number 27652 leaves SMVT Bengaluru at 7:45 pm and reaches Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus at 11:55 am the next day. The return service, train number 27651, leaves Mumbai at 8:10 pm and reaches Bengaluru at noon the following day.
The train stops at Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Yadgir, Wadi, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune and Kalyan. It operates six days a week, except on Mondays from Bengaluru and Tuesdays from Mumbai.
How much do Vande Bharat Sleeper tickets cost?
The Vande Bharat Sleeper trains offer three classes: Third AC (3A), Second AC (2A) and First AC (1A).
| Route | First AC (1A) | Second AC (2A) | Third AC (3A) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howrah–Kamakhya | ₹3,855 | ₹3,145 | ₹2,435 |
| Varanasi–New Delhi | ₹3,030 | ₹2,470 | ₹1,915 |
| Bengaluru–Mumbai | ₹4,450 | ₹3,630 | ₹2,810 |
| The following are the reported one-way fares for the full journey on all three Vande Bharat Sleeper routes. | |||
These are the reported base fares; the amount payable at the time of booking may vary depending on applicable charges and the ticket category. Passengers should check the final fare on IRCTC before making a reservation.
What food is served on board?
Food is part of the overnight travel experience, with menus designed around the route and regional preferences.
On the Varanasi–New Delhi service, the dinner menu includes jeera rice or plain rice, three chapatis or two parathas, yellow dal tadka or another dal, and a choice of paneer, a regional vegetarian preparation or chicken. Curd or buttermilk, pickle and packaged Indian sweets are also listed.
The Howrah–Kamakhya service has a regional food offering drawing on Bengali and Assamese cuisine. Dishes publicised for the route have included basanti pulao, cholar dal, labra, joha rice, matar paneer and traditional sweets.
However, the first commercial runs of the Howrah–Kamakhya train attracted complaints about food quality and quantity. Passengers posting on Reddit described missing items, overcooked rice, hard rotis and confusion over meal distribution.
Some also raised concerns about the availability of bedding and coordination among onboard staff. These were individual passenger accounts from the early days of the service, not an official assessment of catering standards.
For the newer Bengaluru–Mumbai service, passengers should check the catering details available for their specific journey while booking. Menu offerings can vary by route and service.
What facilities can passengers expect?
The sleeper trains are designed for overnight journeys and offer three classes of air-conditioned accommodation.
Among the features provided are:
- Berths across three classes: First AC, Second AC and Third AC.
- Improved access to upper berths: Ergonomically designed ladders are provided.
- Automatic plug doors: Centrally controlled doors and wider, sealed gangways separate the coaches from the outside environment.
- Passenger safety: CCTV cameras, fire detection and suppression systems, fire-barrier doors and the KAVACH train protection system.
- Emergency communication: Talk-back units allow passengers to communicate with the train manager or locomotive pilot in an emergency.
- Air-conditioning and hygiene: The trains have a UV-C lamp-based disinfection system in their air-conditioning units.
- Accessibility: Special lavatories for Divyangjan passengers are provided in the driving coaches at either end.
The trains have a design speed of 180 kmph and an operating speed of up to 160 kmph, subject to route and infrastructure conditions.
First AC also offers a shower facility. The trains have reading lights and charging points for passengers.
Passenger complains that station announcements disrupted sleep
An overnight train is expected to offer passengers the opportunity to sleep through much of the journey. However, a passenger travelling on the first commercial run of the Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper has raised a complaint about repeated announcements at stations.
In a post on Reddit's r/indianrailways community, a passenger said loud announcements were played through the train's speakers at every stop during the night, making it difficult to sleep.
The passenger appealed to the Railways to reduce or switch off routine announcements during night hours, arguing that most travellers already know their destination and do not need repeated announcements disturbing their sleep.
Other users on the forum supported the concern. One described the request as reasonable, while another recounted being told by railway staff that the announcement system was automated and could not be switched off.
The complaint raises a practical question for overnight services: how can passengers be informed about stops without disturbing those trying to sleep? The Railways has not been cited as having issued a response to this particular complaint.
Which Vande Bharat Sleeper routes are coming next?
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced another proposed Vande Bharat Sleeper service for Karnataka. It is expected to originate in Bengaluru, connect northern parts of the state towards the Hubballi region and continue towards Pune and Mumbai.
The minister has not announced a confirmed launch date or a detailed timetable for this service.
The Railways has also announced plans for a Vande Bharat service between Bengaluru and Mangaluru. This is a separate service and should not be confused with the sleeper variant. It is expected to improve connectivity between Bengaluru and coastal Karnataka.
For now, the three sleeper routes — Howrah–Kamakhya, Varanasi–New Delhi and Bengaluru–Mumbai — are the services passengers can consider when planning an overnight Vande Bharat journey.
/images/ppid_59c68470-image-17936100525967900.webp)
