Rs 2,684 for 16-hour journey with meals included: South India's first Vande Bharat sleeper to begin service on November 3

BENGALURU: Travelling between Karnataka and Maharashtra is set to become more convenient with the launch of the Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper train. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will flag off the train from Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal in Bengaluru at 10.30 am on November 1. The first passenger service is scheduled to begin on November 3. The provisional timetable and ticket fares of South India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train have been released.

The train will operate between Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT), Bengaluru, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai, via the Guntakal route. It is likely to have stops at SMVT Bengaluru, Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune, Kalyan and CSMT Mumbai.

According to the preliminary timetable, 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 7.50 pm and reach Mumbai at 11.55 am the next day, completing the journey in approximately 16 hours and five minutes.

On the return journey, the train will leave Mumbai at 8.10 pm and reach Bengaluru at 11.55 am the following day. The journey will take around 15 hours and 45 minutes. The timetable may be revised when regular services begin. According to reports, the ticket fare will be Rs 2,684 for Third AC, Rs 3,466 for Second AC and Rs 4,250 for First AC. The fares include meals served during the journey.