Indian Railways Launches Vande Bharat Sleeper Express Connecting Bengaluru and Mumbai

Bengaluru, November 1 (Daily Kiran) : Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express on November 1, 2026, during the Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations. The train connects Bengaluru and Mumbai, departing from the M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT).

The launch event was attended by several dignitaries, including Union Minister V. Somanna, Pralhad Joshi, and H.D. Kumaraswamy, along with BJP MPs Tejasvi Surya and P.C. Mohan. Vaishnaw greeted attendees at the station and congratulated the people of Karnataka and Bengaluru on this new service. He emphasized that this sleeper service is a significant addition, linking the tech hub of Bengaluru with the financial capital of Mumbai. This marks the third Vande Bharat Sleeper service to be introduced.

The train features several new amenities designed for passenger comfort and safety. Special facilities for locomotive pilots have been incorporated, and enhancements have been made to ease access to berths. Additionally, provisions for differently-abled passengers have been included.

Minister Somanna thanked Vaishnaw for his support, highlighting that the inauguration aligns with Prime Minister Modi’s policies, which aim to improve railway connectivity in northern Karnataka as well as in central and southern regions. He noted that over ₹52,000 crore has been invested in Karnataka’s railway development in the past five years, with more than 900 railway overbridges constructed in the state.

The Vande Bharat Sleeper Express has a total capacity of 823 passengers, featuring 11 AC three-tier coaches for 611 passengers, four AC two-tier coaches for 188 passengers, and one first AC coach for 24 passengers. This overnight service is expected to enhance connectivity between the two major cities and reduce travel time significantly.

Operated by the South Western Railway (SWR), the train will run under the numbers 27652 (SMVT Bengaluru to CSMT Mumbai) and 27651 (CSMT Mumbai to SMVT Bengaluru). The service will operate six days a week, excluding Monday for the Bengaluru-Mumbai route and Tuesday for the return journey.

Train number 27652 will depart SMVT Bengaluru at 7:45 PM, arriving at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai at 11:55 AM the following day, completing the journey in approximately 16 hours. The return train, number 27651, will leave CSMT Mumbai at 8:10 PM and reach SMVT Bengaluru the next day in the afternoon.