Vande Bharat Sleeper Between Varanasi and Delhi to Be Flagged Off Tomorrow; Five Stations on Route
Varanasi, 30th October 2026: A new Vande Bharat Sleeper Express connecting Varanasi and New Delhi will be flagged off on Saturday, October 31, by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw from Varanasi.
The train will connect Varanasi with New Delhi via Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, Aligarh and Ghaziabad. It will operate six days a week, providing overnight connectivity between eastern Uttar Pradesh and the national capital.
According to the proposed schedule, the train will depart Varanasi at 8.50 pm and reach New Delhi at 6.10 am the following day. On its return journey, it will leave New Delhi at 9.40 pm and arrive in Varanasi at 7.10 am.
The new service is expected to reduce travel time compared with the existing Shiv Ganga Express. The journey from Varanasi to New Delhi will be shorter by 55 minutes, while the return journey will take 35 minutes less.
The Varanasi-originating service will not operate on Fridays, while the New Delhi-originating service will remain off service on Saturdays.
The route will provide connectivity to five intermediate stations, including Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, Aligarh and Ghaziabad, catering to passengers travelling between these cities and the national capital.
Vande Bharat Sleeper: Coach Features and Passenger Amenities
Designed for long-distance overnight journeys, the Vande Bharat Sleeper train will feature modern sleeper accommodation, advanced safety systems and passenger amenities.
The train will have an under-slung propulsion system, regenerative braking and an aerodynamic design. Its stainless-steel car body will comply with EN15227 crash safety standards. The coaches will also feature sealed flexible gangways, automatic sliding plug doors, noise insulation and LED lighting.
For passenger safety, the train will be equipped with the Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), CCTV cameras, smoke and fire detection systems, fire barrier doors and emergency passenger alarm buttons. Disaster management lighting will also be provided.
Modern Facilities for Overnight Travel
The train will have ergonomically designed toilets with vacuum evacuation systems, spacious luggage areas and dedicated berths and toilets for passengers with disabilities.
Charging facilities will include three-pin power sockets and Type-A and Type-C USB ports. A passenger information and communication system, Wi-Fi connectivity and sensor-based intercommunication doors will also be available.
The First AC coach will have shower facilities with hot water. The train will also feature air-conditioned driver cabins and separate toilet facilities for the crew.
The Varanasi–New Delhi service follows the introduction of Vande Bharat Sleeper services on the Howrah–Guwahati corridor in January 2026. The new service will add another route to Indian Railways’ sleeper train network.
