The New Route and Schedule
The second Vande Bharat Sleeper, named the Sant Ravidas Express, is set to be flagged off on July 17, 2026. It will connect Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Chheharta, near Amritsar, in Punjab, creating a significant new link between eastern UP and Punjab.
Unlike the daily chair-car Vande Bharat services, this sleeper train will run three times a week in each direction. Train No. 14623 will depart from Varanasi on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Mondays at 7:05 PM, arriving in Chheharta the next day at 5:10 PM. In the opposite direction, Train No. 14624 will leave Chheharta on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 2:05 PM, reaching Varanasi at 12:15 PM the following day. This schedule is designed for overnight travel, a key focus for the new sleeper class of trains.
Timings and Journey Duration
The total journey from Varanasi to Chheharta is scheduled to take approximately 22 hours and 5 minutes. The trip from Chheharta to Varanasi is slightly faster, at around 22 hours and 10 minutes. A key competitor on this corridor is the Akal Takht Express. The Vande Bharat Sleeper's timing appears competitive, aiming to provide a reliable and potentially faster alternative for overnight passengers. For instance, the journey from Varanasi to Lucknow on the new sleeper is scheduled for just over 5 hours, departing at 7:05 PM and arriving at 12:10 AM. This is a crucial leg of the journey, and the timings are structured to serve passengers travelling between these major cities effectively.
A Look at the Stops
The Sant Ravidas Express will have several important halts, connecting major commercial and pilgrimage centers across three states. The list of stops includes Jaunpur City, Sultanpur, Lucknow, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Saharanpur, Ambala Cantt, Ludhiana, Jalandhar City, and Amritsar. These stops have been chosen to capture the heavy passenger traffic along this corridor. By connecting these hubs, the train aims to offer a premium travel option to a wide range of passengers, from business travellers to families and pilgrims. The inclusion of cities like Lucknow, Moradabad, Ludhiana, and Jalandhar makes it a vital link for North India.
Decoding the Cost
While specific fares for the Varanasi-Chheharta route are yet to be finalised, the pricing model for the Vande Bharat Sleepers has been established and is based on a per-kilometre rate. Fares are expected to be slightly higher than those for Rajdhani Express trains. Based on the model from the first sleeper service, fares are approximately ₹2.4 per km for 3AC, ₹3.1 per km for 2AC, and ₹3.8 per km for 1AC, before GST. A significant new rule is that there will be no Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) or waitlisted tickets; only confirmed berths will be issued. Additionally, a minimum chargeable distance of 400 km will be applied, meaning even short trips will be priced for that minimum distance.
Comfort and Modern Amenities
The Vande Bharat Sleepers are a major upgrade over existing long-distance trains. Each 16-coach trainset is designed to carry over 820 passengers across First AC, 2-tier AC, and 3-tier AC classes. The coaches feature an aerodynamic design for a smoother, quieter ride, even at speeds up to 160 km/h. Inside, passengers can expect ergonomically designed, better-cushioned berths, sensor-based lighting, reading lights, and charging points for every passenger. Other amenities include automatic doors, bio-vacuum toilets with odour control, CCTV cameras, and the indigenous Kavach anti-collision safety system. First AC passengers will even have access to an on-board shower facility.
