The Mumbai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Sleeper Express is likely to enter passenger service by Dussehra, offering an overnight rail option that could reduce travel time between the two cities by about six hours and 20 minutes, according to railway sources cited in a report by the Times of India.
The proposed train is expected to cover the nearly 1,000-km route in 15 hours and 45 minutes, compared with approximately 22 hours and five minutes taken by the Udyan Express. The new service has completed trial runs at speeds of up to 160 kmph, with preparations for its introduction reported to be in the final stages.
Under tentative timings, the train would leave Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai at 8.10 pm and arrive at Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal in Bengaluru at 11.55 am the following day. In the opposite direction, it is expected to depart Bengaluru at 7.50 pm and reach CSMT at 11.55 am the next day.
The timings have not yet been officially confirmed by the railways. The proposed route would pass through Kalyan, Pune, Solapur, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Guntakal and Anantapur. The service is expected to run six days a week, with two sleeper Vande Bharat trainsets proposed for the corridor.
The overnight schedule would distinguish the service from the Udyan Express, which currently leaves CSMT at 7.55 am. A sleeper configuration would allow passengers to travel through the night while avoiding the need for a daytime journey. The service is expected to be relevant to passengers travelling between Mumbai and Bengaluru for work, business and tourism, while providing an alternative to air travel.
Railway officials cited in the report said the onboard menu was being finalised in consultation with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation. Regional cuisines are expected to be included in the catering plan, although further operational details have not been announced.
The proposed service would add a faster overnight rail connection between two major metropolitan regions and several important cities along the route. However, the launch date, timetable, frequency and other operating details remain subject to official confirmation by the railways.
The report also noted that the country’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train was flagged off on the Howrah-Kamakhya route on January 17, 2026. That service covers the distance between Howrah in West Bengal and Kamakhya in Assam in around 14 hours.
