Ashwini Vaishnaw flags off Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper train; tickets sold out

BENGALURU: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off South India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train on Sunday. The inaugural ceremony was held at Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal in Bengaluru. Union Minister of State for Railways V Somanna, Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and H D Kumaraswamy, Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje and BJP MPs Tejasvi Surya, P C Mohan and C N Manjunath were among those who attended the event.

Ashwini Vaishnaw said the sleeper train has been equipped with advanced features to ensure passenger comfort and safety. Special facilities for loco pilots, easier access to upper berths and dedicated arrangements for passengers with disabilities are among its key features.

The first passenger service is scheduled to begin on November 3. The tentative timetable and ticket fares of South India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper service have already been announced. Meanwhile, ticket bookings have witnessed a huge rush even before the official inauguration.

According to the latest information, tickets for the train have moved to the waiting list. Third AC, Second AC, and First AC tickets for November 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are currently on the waiting list. Tickets are available only for November 8; however, First AC tickets for the 8th have also moved to the waiting list.

The Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper train will operate between SMVT Bengaluru and CSMT Mumbai via the Guntakal route. It is expected to stop at SMVT Bengaluru, Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune, Kalyan and CSMT Mumbai.

The train will operate six days a week and take around 16 hours to cover the distance between Bengaluru and Mumbai. It will depart from Bengaluru at 7.45 pm and reach Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus at 11.55 am the next day, after a journey of approximately 16 hours and five minutes.

On the return journey, the train will leave Mumbai at 8.10 pm and reach Bengaluru at 12 noon the following day, covering the distance in around 15 hours and 45 minutes. The timings are subject to change once regular services begin. The overnight Vande Bharat service is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities. South Western Railway will operate the train.