Vande Bharat Sleeper Train: 2nd service from Varanasi to Delhi likely to launch on October 31; check route, timings and stoppages

Vande Bharat Sleeper Train: Varanasi and Delhi are likely to welcome a new Vande Bharat Sleeper train from October 31. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw are expected to flag off the train. Offering passengers a new overnight travel option, the train is likely to operate six days a week, except Saturdays, according to a TOI report. The journey is expected to cover approximately 1,118 km in around 15-16 hours.

Varanasi-Delhi Vande Bharat Sleeper train route

According to the report, the train service is expected to operate six days a week. Train No. 27421 (Varanasi–New Delhi): It will depart from Varanasi at 8:50 PM and arrive in New Delhi at 6:10 AM the next day. In the return direction, Train No. 27422 will depart from New Delhi at 9:40 PM and arrive in Varanasi at 7:10 AM the next day.

Varanasi-Delhi Vande Bharat Sleeper Train stoppages

The train will stop at Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, Aligarh, and Ghaziabad. In the return direction, the train will stop at Ghaziabad, Aligarh, Kanpur Central, and Prayagraj.

Varanasi-Delhi Vande Bharat Sleeper train will not operate on Fridays and Saturdays

The train will operate six days a week, except on Fridays from Varanasi and on Saturdays from New Delhi. Prayagraj and Kanpur Central have been designated as watering stations. The introduction will take effect from an early, convenient date, and a special inaugural service may be planned if required.

Vande Bharat Sleeper ticket pricing: How are fares calculated for Vande Bharat Sleeper trains?

Vande Bharat Sleeper fares are calculated on a per-passenger, per-kilometre basis, according to a written reply by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Lok Sabha in March.

AC 3-tier fare starts at Rs 2.40 per km

The fare for AC 3-tier travel is Rs 2.40 per km, excluding GST. At this rate, a 1,000-km journey would cost approximately Rs 2,400 before taxes. The minister also clarified that Vande Bharat Sleeper trains do not offer Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) tickets.

Fares range from Rs 2.40 to Rs 3.80 per km

The fare structure for Vande Bharat Sleeper trains ranges from Rs 2.40 to Rs 3.80 per km. According to the Railways, these rates are lower than the estimated fares of Rs 7 to Rs 20 per km for comparable services in countries such as China, Japan and France.

Indian Railways provides 43% average passenger concession

Indian Railways provided passenger fare subsidies worth Rs 60,239 crore in 2024-25, translating into an average concession of 43% for passengers, according to the minister.