India's 2nd Vande Bharat Sleeper to Be Flagged Off on Oct 31 by Ashwini Vaishnaw and Yogi Adityanath: Check Details
Indian Railways is set to roll out the country's second—and North India's first—Vande Bharat Sleeper Express on October 31, 2026, connecting Varanasi (Banaras) and New Delhi. Flagged off by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the 16-coach overnight semi-high-speed train covers approximately 759 km in around 9 hours. Key highlights include hot showers in First AC, personalized AC air vent controls at each berth, Kavach 4.0 automatic safety, and confirmed commercial halts at Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, Aligarh, and Ghaziabad.
◆ Varanasi–New Delhi Vande Bharat Sleeper Express:
In a major festive boost ahead of Diwali and Chhath Puja, Indian Railways is expanding its premium overnight fleet. Following the launch of the Howrah–Kamakhya service earlier this year, the nation's second Vande Bharat Sleeper Express will operate between Varanasi and New Delhi. The Railway Board officially notified the service via circular CC-235/2026 on October 27.
◆ Inauguration on October 31
Launch Venue: Platform No. 8, Banaras (Manduadih) Railway Station.
Flag-Off: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are scheduled to jointly flag off the train.
Ceremonial Reception at Prayagraj: During the inaugural run, a formal welcome ceremony will take place at Platform No. 6 of Prayagraj Junction in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, Cabinet Minister Nand Gopal Gupta 'Nandi', and local representatives.
◆ Route, Travel Time, and Commercial Halts:
Covering a distance of roughly 759 kilometers in an overnight journey of about 9 hours 20 min, connects Varanasi Cantt/Banaras to New Delhi. As per the official Railway Board notification, commercial stoppages have been assigned to four intermediate stations:
1.Prayagraj Junction
2.Kanpur Central
3.Aligarh Junction
5.Ghaziabad Junction
◆ Timetable & Schedule
Operating Days & Maintenance Schedule
Frequency: 6 days a week.
Ex-Varanasi (Train 27421): Runs daily except Fridays.
Ex-New Delhi (Train 27422): Runs daily except Saturdays.
Maintenance: Primary Maintenance (PM) will be carried out at Varanasi, with Secondary Maintenance (SM) at New Delhi. Water refilling will take place at Prayagraj and Kanpur Central.
Coach Composition & Capacity
The train consists of 16 fully air-conditioned coaches with a total capacity of 823 berths:
AC 3-Tier (3AC): 11 coaches
AC 2-Tier (2AC): 4 coaches
First AC (1AC): 1 coach
No RAC Berths: Only confirmed ticket holders will be accommodated to preserve passenger comfort and privacy.
Key Amenities & High-Tech Features
First AC Hot Shower: First AC passengers have access to an onboard hot water shower facility for long-distance travel comfort.
Seat-Integrated AC Control: Passengers can adjust individual AC louvers and airflow directly from their berths.
Direct Loco-Pilot Talk-Back: An emergency intercom allows passengers to communicate directly with the train operator in case of distress.
Kavach 4.0 Collision Avoidance: Fitted with the indigenous automated train protection system that automatically
deploys brakes in the event of signal overshoots or track obstruction.
Jerk-Free Ride & Soundproofing: Advanced semi-permanent couplers, air suspension, and sound-insulating materials deliver a quiet, jerk-free night's sleep.
Touchless Bio-Vacuum Toilets: Aircraft-style modular vacuum toilets with odor control, along with individual USB and Type-C fast-charging sockets, reading lights, and automatic sliding plug doors.
Railway Board Tentative Schedule: