South Western Railway has proposed running the inaugural Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Express on November 1, potentially reducing the rail journey between the two cities from about 24 hours to 16 hours. The proposed special coincides with Karnataka Rajyotsava, while the date for regular commercial services has not yet been notified.
According to SWR sources cited by the Times of India, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is expected to flag off the service. If introduced as proposed, it would be the first Vande Bharat sleeper service in southern India.
The 1,118-km train is expected to operate with 16 coaches, comprising 11 AC three-tier coaches, four AC two-tier coaches and one AC first-class coach. Together, the train would have capacity for 823 berths. The proposed train numbers are 27651 and 27652.
The fare structure has not been finalised. SWR sources indicated that fares could range from Rs 2,600 to Rs 4,250, depending on the class of travel. The final prices will be announced separately if the service receives approval for commercial operation.
The proposed route will connect Bengaluru with Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Solapur and Kalyan before reaching Mumbai. These stops would place the service on a major cross-state corridor linking Karnataka, Maharashtra and intermediate urban centres in the Deccan region.
The existing Udyan Express is described as the principal daily direct train between Bengaluru and Mumbai and takes around 24 hours to complete the journey. The proposed sleeper service is expected to cover the route in approximately 16 hours, offering a faster overnight option for passengers who currently rely on slower rail services or alternative modes of transport.
SWR had initially been expected to launch the service in October, but an official cited the model code of conduct for Karnataka Legislative Council elections as the reason the launch could not take place during that period. The proposed November 1 run is therefore subject to the final operational and administrative clearances.
The immediate uncertainty concerns the status of regular services. While the inaugural special has been proposed for November 1, SWR has not yet notified when ticketed commercial operations will begin. The final timetable, fare structure and booking arrangements will determine how the service is integrated into the existing Bengaluru-Mumbai rail network.
