New Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Sleeper to Launch Oct 31
Indian Railways to launch five new trains on Oct 31, including the premium New Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat services.
Indian Railways is gearing up for a massive network expansion on October 31, 2026, with the introduction of five new train services. This rollout includes premium Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat Express services, designed to enhance connectivity between major urban hubs and regional centers.
High-Speed Luxury: The Vande Bharat Sleeper Experience
The standout addition is the New Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Sleeper Express (train numbers 27421 and 27422). This premium service will be jointly flagged off by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Designed for both comfort and speed, the Vande Bharat Sleeper will cover approximately 760 kilometers in about 9.5 hours. The train is equipped with 16 fully air-conditioned coaches, providing a capacity for 823 passengers. Travelers can enjoy modern amenities such as Wi-Fi and advanced charging ports, all while benefiting from the high-tech Kavach safety system. With an operational speed of 160 km/h, the train will make scheduled halts at Kanpur Central, Prayagraj, Aligarh, and Ghaziabad.
On its inaugural run, the train is scheduled to depart Varanasi at 4:30 PM and arrive in New Delhi at 1:30 AM.
Expanding Connectivity: Superfast and Mail Services
The expansion also brings several other important services to the tracks to improve passenger movement:
- Varanasi-Sabarmati Superfast Express (12206/12205): A daily service featuring 22 coaches, connecting Varanasi to cities including Mirzapur, Kanpur, Agra, Jaipur, and Ajmer.
- Kanpur Central-Anand Vihar Mail (14153/14154): This service will commence daily overnight operations starting October 31.
- MEMU Services: To boost local regional connectivity, two new MEMU services will be flagged off between Varanasi-Prayagraj Rambag and Varanasi City-Raja Talab.
Amrit Bharat and Future Plans
The Bhuj-Barauni Amrit Bharat Express (19427/19428) is scheduled to begin operations on October 30, creating a vital link between Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. Looking ahead, railway authorities have already drafted a proposal for a new Amrit Bharat Express to connect Varanasi Junction to Puducherry.
Due to the influx of these inaugural events, passengers should be aware that temporary platform adjustments have been implemented at Varanasi Railway Station for October 30 and 31.