Vande Bharat Train Route Announced for Second Sleeper Service: Stops, Timings, Fares

The second sleeper new Vande Bharat train is set to travel between Varanasi and New Delhi. Likely flag off on 31 October 2026. Train 27421 departs Varanasi at 8:50 PM and arrives at New Delhi at 5:55 AM. Train 27422 departs New Delhi at 9:40 PM and arrives at Varanasi at 6:45 AM. The Vande Bharat train route has two halts – Prayagraj Junction and Kanpur Central. Fares yet to be announced, but early estimates show AC 3-tier at ₹2,000.

Vande Bharat Train Route and Stops

Daily Jagran said that the service connects Varanasi, Prayagraj, Kanpur and New Delhi. According to UNI, it would be flagged off from platform 8 at Varanasi by Railroad Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The timings below are the reported schedule and not a final rail timetable. This Vande Bharat new route is likely to be beneficial to the Purvanchal region in particular.

The Stop List Is Not Final

Only Prayagraj is mentioned in the advertised return timetable between the two terminals. Kanpur Central is shown on the Varanasi to Delhi route, and so a return halt is likely, but not confirmed. Railroads is expected to issue a definitive schedule for regular services soon. Check the IRCTC app or NTES before you book.

When is the second Vande Bharat sleeper?

The first run will be on 31 October 2026, starting from Varanasi at 11:00 AM, reports The Daily Jagran. The train is reportedly to run six days a week, with no service on Saturdays, according to a report quoted by Inkl. HelloRail reports that reservations will open on October 27. Some publications round it up to eight but the time taken for each trip on this new Vande Bharat route is almost nine hours, it is stated.

Expected Fares of the New Vande Bharat Train

The Railroads has not issued fares for this service. HelloRail suggests ₹2,000 for AC 3-tier, ₹2,500 for AC 2-tier and ₹3,000 for First AC. The same page says the AC 3-tier tariff is around ₹2.40 per km, excluding GST. All numbers here are tentative for confirmation by the railroads.

Why the Final Fare Might Differ

“A railroad ticket price is generally inclusive of the basic fare, a reservation charge and GST, so the final amount may vary from a rounded estimate. It also depends on the distance and class you choose . These numbers are from one site and could change when railroads announced the tariff. Check the amount displayed on the IRCTC app before making the payment.

How the Vande Bharat Train Route Timings Compare with Existing Varanasi Trains

The Varanasi Mahamana Express (22417) as per its time table departs Varanasi at 6:55 PM and reaches New Delhi at 8:20 AM, taking around 13 hours 25 minutes. The new Vande Bharat train brings this down to around nine hours on reported times, saving more than four hours. Also it arrives in Delhi earlier at 5.55 AM instead of 8.20 AM. Mahamana Express operates only thrice a week so check up to date timetables before you compare.

New Vande Bharat Train Coaches & Capacity

The new Vande Bharat train features 16 fully air-conditioned bogies. It has one First AC coach, four AC two-tier coaches and 11 AC three-tier coaches. HelloRail says the overall capacity is 823 passengers. This is not like the earlier Vande Bharat trains with chair car seats but designed for overnight travel.

Vande Bharat for Tourists Gets Direct Overnight Link to Varanasi

If you get in Varanasi at 6:45 AM, you can be on the ghats that same morning and not have to pay for a hotel night. Vande Bharat for tourists also opens up Prayagraj which is on the route as the primary intermediate stop. Our guide to Dussehra in Varanasi explains how the month-long Ramlila works if you’re planning a festival trip. Trains are one of the most reliable ways of covering vast distances if you’re traveling alone, says our single female travel guide.