Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Sleeper to Launch Oct 31
Indian Railways to launch the Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Sleeper on October 31, 2026, featuring premium AC coaches and high-speed overnight travel.
Indian Railways is all set to redefine overnight travel with the upcoming launch of the Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Sleeper train. Scheduled for its inaugural run on October 31, 2026, this semi-high-speed service is designed to provide unparalleled comfort for passengers traveling between the national capital and the holy city of Varanasi.
The much-anticipated service is expected to be flagged off by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, according to confirmations from Awanish K. Awasthi, Advisor to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.
High-Speed Luxury and Premium Accommodations
The new Vande Bharat Sleeper is engineered for speed and comfort, capable of reaching a maximum operational speed of 180 km/h. The train will cover the approximately 760-kilometer distance in an estimated 9.5 hours, making it an ideal option for overnight journeys.
To ensure a premium experience, the train will consist of 16 specialized coaches, offering a total capacity for 823 passengers. The coach configuration includes:
- 11 Third AC coaches
- 4 Second AC coaches
- 1 First AC coach
Route Details and Weekly Schedule
The train will offer seamless connectivity by making scheduled stops at several key railway junctions. Passengers traveling on this route will benefit from stops at:
- Ghaziabad Junction
- Aligarh Junction
- Kanpur Central
- Prayagraj Junction
In terms of frequency, the train will operate six days a week. To maintain its schedule, the service will remain stationary on Fridays when departing from New Delhi and on Saturdays when departing from Varanasi.
Massive Expansion of Special Trains for Festive Season
The launch of the Vande Bharat Sleeper coincides with a significant boost in railway capacity to handle the heavy passenger influx during the upcoming festive season. Northern Railway has announced plans to operate over 6,200 special train trips, representing a 30 percent increase compared to the previous year.
These special services, running from October 31 to December 12, 2026, are aimed at managing the surge in travelers during Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath. Notable routes for these special services include:
- Hubballi to Jaipur
- Thiruvananthapuram to Hazrat Nizamuddin
- Ludhiana to Saharsa, Darbhanga, Gaya, and Kolkata
Overall, Indian Railways has notified a massive 3.4 lakh regular train trips and 8,454 special train trips for the October and November 2026 period to ensure smooth travel during the peak holiday months.