Source NDTV
Long journeys between India’s tech hub and its financial capital are about to get a major upgrade. Indian Railways is rolling out the highly anticipated Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, flagged off on November 1 to mark Karnataka Rajyotsava. Designed to offer airplane-like comfort on the tracks, the semi-high-speed overnight service dramatically cuts travel time between the two bustling metropolises.
For years, travelers making the 1,118-kilometre journey on conventional trains like the Udyan Express had to budget nearly 22 to 24 hours. The new Vande Bharat Sleeper slashes that time to roughly 16 hours—saving travelers nearly an entire working day. You can now board in the evening, enjoy dinner, sleep comfortably through the night, and wake up ready for business the next morning.
Route and Key Halts
The service links Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) in Bengaluru directly to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai.
Operating via the Guntakal route, the train is slated to make eight strategic intermediate halts, opening up rapid transit for regional hubs along the way:
Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh: Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, and Kalaburagi
Maharashtra: Solapur, Pune, and Kalyan
Schedule and Timings
Running six days a week, the train is engineered around an ideal overnight business timetable:
Bengaluru to Mumbai (Train No. 27652): Departs SMVT Bengaluru at 7:45 PM and pulls into Mumbai CSMT at 11:55 AM the following morning.
Mumbai to Bengaluru (Train No. 27651): Departs Mumbai CSMT at 8:10 PM and arrives at SMVT Bengaluru at 12:00 PM (Noon) the next day.
(Note: Regular commercial services exclude Monday departures from Bengaluru and Tuesday departures from Mumbai.)
Expected Fares and Coach Layout
The sleek 16-coach rake accommodates up to 823 passengers across three premium air-conditioned classes:
11 AC 3-Tier coaches (611 berths)
4 AC 2-Tier coaches (188 berths)
1 AC First Class coach (24 berths)
Indicative base fares start around ₹2,684 for AC 3-Tier, ₹3,466 for AC 2-Tier, and ₹4,250 for AC First Class (with meals and GST additional, putting an all-inclusive 3AC ticket near ₹3,000). Bookings open via the official IRCTC portal and railway counters.
World-Class Passenger Amenities
Built from the ground up to surpass the traditional Rajdhani experience, the sleeper train introduces several thoughtful upgrades:
Ergonomic Berths: Extra cushioning and redesigned, easier-to-climb upper berth ladders.
Aviation-Style Washrooms: Odour-free bio-vacuum toilets, dedicated accessible washrooms with baby-care stations, and hot-water showers in First Class.
Safety & Smoothness: Equipped with the indigenous KAVACH anti-collision system, CCTV monitoring, automatic plug doors, and sealed gangways that keep out external noise and dust.
Whether you are heading out for client meetings, visiting family, or planning a weekend getaway, the Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper promises a restful journey that combines the speed of modern rail with the comfort of a hotel room on wheels.
