Indian Railways is preparing to introduce another Sleeper Vande Bharat Express, and this time the proposed service will connect Delhi with Varanasi. Designed as an overnight train, the service is expected to offer passengers a faster and more comfortable alternative for travelling between the two cities.

The proposed train will run via Prayagraj and Kanpur. If introduced as planned, it will become the second Sleeper Vande Bharat service operated by Indian Railways. The first Sleeper Vande Bharat service was introduced on the Howrah-Kamakhya route.

What will be the timing of the Sleeper Vande Bharat?

As per the proposed schedule, the train will leave Varanasi Cantt at around 9:20 PM. It is expected to reach Prayagraj at approximately 10:45 PM and Kanpur Central at around 12:35 AM before arriving at New Delhi at 5:00 AM.

On the return journey, the train is proposed to depart from New Delhi at 9:20 PM and reach Varanasi at around 5:00 AM.

This overnight schedule would allow passengers to travel while sleeping and reach their destination early in the morning.

What will the train look like?

The proposed Sleeper Vande Bharat will have 16 coaches, including:

• 11 AC 3-tier coaches

• 4 AC 2-tier coaches

• 1 First AC coach

The train is expected to accommodate around 823 passengers.

Like other Vande Bharat trains, it will feature modern passenger amenities designed to make long-distance travel more comfortable.

How fast will it run?

The proposed train is expected to operate at speeds of around 130 km/h to 160 km/h, depending on track conditions and the progress of railway infrastructure upgrades under the Mission Raftaar project.

The higher operating speed could help reduce journey times between Delhi, Kanpur, Prayagraj and Varanasi.

When will the train start?

According to the current plan, railway authorities are targeting a launch around Diwali. Trial runs are expected to begin soon.

However, several details have not yet been officially finalised by the Railway Board. These include the train number, final timetable, fare structure and exact date of regular commercial operations.

Northern Railway is expected to handle the primary maintenance of the proposed train.

The introduction of the Sleeper Vande Bharat on this route would provide passengers with an overnight rail option connecting Delhi, Kanpur, Prayagraj and Varanasi, while combining sleeper accommodation with the features associated with Vande Bharat trains.

Praveen Patel, Member of the Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee (ZRUCC), NCR, said the proposed service could make travel between Delhi, Prayagraj and Varanasi more convenient while reducing the effective travel time.