PM Modi Calls Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Train a Game Changer

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday described the newly launched Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Express as a "game changer" for railway connectivity, saying it would benefit people across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, particularly youngsters, IT professionals and students.

In a post on X, Modi said the new service was another step towards strengthening rail connectivity from Bengaluru, a major centre of technology and innovation. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the train on November 1, connecting the two major metropolitan cities through an overnight rail service.

The train operates between Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT), Bengaluru, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai, covering approximately 1,000 km. It has eight scheduled intermediate stops at Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Yadgir, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune and Kalyan.

The Bengaluru-Mumbai service is scheduled to depart at 7.45 pm and arrive at 11.55 am the following day, taking around 16 hours and 10 minutes. The return service will leave Mumbai at 8.10 pm and reach Bengaluru at noon the next day. Regular services will operate six days a week, with the Bengaluru-Mumbai train not running on Mondays and the return service not operating on Tuesdays. Commercial operations are scheduled to begin on November 2 and 3, respectively.

The 16-coach train has 823 berths, comprising 11 AC three-tier coaches, four AC two-tier coaches and one First AC coach. Ticket fares are ₹2,810 for AC three-tier, ₹3,630 for AC two-tier and ₹4,450 for First AC.

Equipped with modern sleeping berths, automatic doors, improved suspension, noise-reduction technology, the Kavach safety system and emergency talk-back facilities, the train aims to provide a comfortable and safer overnight journey.

The flag-off ceremony was attended by Union ministers and other dignitaries, including Pralhad Joshi, H.D. Kumaraswamy, V. Somanna and Shobha Karandlaje.

Vaishnaw also indicated plans for additional Vande Bharat connectivity involving Bengaluru, Hubballi, Pune and Mumbai, while a Bengaluru-Mangaluru service is expected in the coming weeks.