Ashwini Vaishnaw flags off Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Express
The new overnight rail service connects Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal in Bengaluru with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the inaugural Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Express on Sunday, November 1. The service connects Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) in Bengaluru with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai.
The inaugural special train departed from SMVT Bengaluru and is scheduled to arrive at CSMT Mumbai at 6.15 am on Monday. The 16-coach rake includes eight motor car coaches, four trailer car coaches, two non-driving trailer car coaches, and two driving trailer car coaches.
Regular services will begin from Mumbai to Bengaluru on November 2 and from Bengaluru to Mumbai on November 3. Train No. 27652 will leave Bengaluru at 7.45 pm and reach Mumbai at 11.55 am the next day, running six days a week excluding Mondays.
The return service, Train No. 27651, will depart Mumbai at 8.10 pm and reach Bengaluru at noon the following day. This service will run six days a week, except on Tuesdays.
Scheduled stops for the regular service include Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Yadgir, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune, and Kalyan. The inaugural run also included halts at Hindupur, Dharmavaram, and Lonavala.
Union Ministers HD Kumaraswamy, Pralhad Joshi, V Somanna, and Shobha Karandlaje were present at the event. Minister Vaishnaw also mentioned plans for a Vande Bharat Sleeper service from Bengaluru towards Hubballi, Pune, and Mumbai.