Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat train: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday approved a new Vande Bharat sleeper train service between Bengaluru and Mumbai, officials said. According to officials, the move comes nearly three months after the rollout of the Kamakhya-Howrah Vande Bharat sleeper train, which registered an impressive passenger demand.
As per official announcement, the newly sanctioned train will operate between Bengaluru’s KSR Railway station and Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj terminus, which are notably the country’s two busiest transport hubs.
[caption id="attachment_2638" align="alignnone" width="1200"]
Vande Bharat train[/caption]
Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat train: Approval confirmed in Minister’s letter
In a letter dated April 5, 2026, addressed to PC Mohan, the Member of Parliament from Bangalore Central, the approval was communicated. The Minister, in the correspondence, acknowledged prior discussions regarding the need for enhanced connectivity between the two metropolitan cities.
Vaishnaw said, “You would be pleased to know that the introduction of a new Vande Bharat sleeper train between KSR Bengaluru and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus has been approved.”
Check the official Tweet below:https://twitter.com/PCMohanMP/status/2042819991511404559
Train expected to redefine overnight journeys
The new train is likely to redefine overnight rail journeys by offering less travel time, enhanced comfort and state-of-the-art amenities. The service comes as part of the government’s broader plan to introduce 12 new sleeper rakes by December this year, with the goal to ramp up long-distance travel infrastructure.
[caption id="attachment_2639" align="alignnone" width="1200"]
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw[/caption]
Vande Bharat trains log impressive ridership
It is noteworthy that since its debut on the New Delhi-Varanasi route in 2019, Vande Bharat trains have tweaked passenger experience in India. The trains, operated by Indian Railways, have served close to 9.1 crore passengers across 1 lakh trips. According to statistics, nearly 3.98 crore passengers rode the Vande Bharat trains in the financial year 2024-25, marking a robust year-on-year growth of 34%.
Moreover, the Kamakhya-Howrah Vande Bharat sleeper train recorded over 100% occupancy within just three months of its rollout. It ferried almost 1.21 lakh passengers across 119 trips.
Also read: Sabarimala case hearing: SC says- ‘Temple entry curbs not good for Hinduism’; flags concerns over religious exclusivity