Railway Minister Flags Off Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Express

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday flagged off the inaugural run of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express connecting Bengaluru and Mumbai, enhancing overnight rail connectivity between the two major metropolitan cities.

Officials stated that the inaugural special train, featuring a 16-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper rake, departed from the Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) in Bengaluru. It is scheduled to arrive at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai.

Several dignitaries attended the flag-off event, including Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and H D Kumaraswamy, Ministers of State V Somanna and Shobha Karandlaje, alongside Members of Parliament Tejasvi Surya, P C Mohan, and C N Manjunath.

According to the South Western Railway, regular commercial services for the route will commence on November 2 in the Mumbai-Bengaluru direction and on November 3 for the return journey.

Train No. 27652 running from Bengaluru to Mumbai will operate six days a week, excluding Mondays. The service is scheduled to depart SMVT Bengaluru at 7:45 pm and reach CSMT Mumbai at 11:55 am the following day.

In the opposite direction, Train No. 27651 will depart CSMT Mumbai at 8:10 pm and arrive at SMVT Bengaluru at noon the next day, operating six days a week except on Tuesdays.

The scheduled stoppages for the regular service include Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Yadgir, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune, and Kalyan. Additionally, the inaugural special train made stops at Hindupur, Dharmavaram, and Lonavala.

The 16-coach rake composition comprises eight motor car coaches and four trailer car coaches. South Western Railway noted that the introduction of this service aims to offer passengers an improved and comfortable overnight travel option, further strengthening transit links between the states of Karnataka and Maharashtra.

"The introduction of high-speed overnight connectivity between Bengaluru and Mumbai is a significant development for commerce and travel between two of India's major economic hubs. Improved transportation infrastructure directly impacts business mobility, tourism, and regional economic integration. Reliable and comfortable transit options between key metro cities are essential for supporting commercial activity and overall market growth." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes