Indian Railways is scheduled to introduce the New Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Sleeper Express on October 31, 2026, expanding overnight connectivity between the national capital and Uttar Pradesh. The 16-coach train will offer First AC, Second AC and Third AC accommodation and is expected to operate six days a week. Railway Board timetable details list services 27421 and 27422, with scheduled stops at Prayagraj and Kanpur Central. Commercial fares and booking details should be checked through official railway channels.
New Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Sleeper Express Launch, Timings and Route Details
Indian Railways is gearing up to introduce an overnight Vande Bharat Sleeper Express between New Delhi and Varanasi with 16 coaches and three classes of accommodation.
Indian Railways is all set to launch the semi-high-speed New Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Sleeper Express during the festive season, which is expected to boost the overnight rail connectivity between Uttar Pradesh and the national capital. The train will be flagged off from Varanasi by Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The proposed service is a response to strong passenger demand for premium overnight rail travel, especially after the reported success of the Howrah-Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper service. It is being launched before Diwali and Chhath, when there is more movement of passengers.
New Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Sleeper Express Timings
It is said to operate six days a week, overnight between the two cities. Train No. 27421 will depart from Varanasi at 8.50 pm and arrive in Delhi at 5.55 am the next day.
Train No. 27422 will leave New Delhi at 9.40 pm and reach Varanasi at 6.45 am the next day. The train will run via Kanpur Central and cover approximately 760 kilometres in nine hours and 30 minutes.
The proposed timings would allow passengers to travel overnight and reach their destination early the next morning. Passengers are advised to check official Indian Railways announcements for confirmation of operational dates, schedule, and booking availability.
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Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Coaches and Fare Details
The New Delhi-Varanasi service will have 16 coaches and will offer three types of accommodation - Third AC, Second AC and First AC. The setup is meant to provide varying levels of comfort for overnight trips.
The report did not include the commercial fare circular. Ticket prices would likely be a little higher than other trains on the route to reflect the amenities available on board, an official said.
Exact fares, booking dates and any other passenger facilities are to be confirmed through official railway channels once the relevant details are out.
Vande Bharat Expansion and Passenger Demand
The New Delhi-Varanasi route was the first Vande Bharat service launched in February 2019. The Vande Bharat trains have operated over one lakh trips carrying more than 9.1 crore passengers, the report said.
The report also stated that the number of passengers using the service was 3.98 crore in FY25-25 against 2.97 crore in FY 2024-25. We need clarification as to the financial year labelling of the first figure.
The Kamakhya-Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper service reportedly registered more than 100 per cent occupancy in its first 119 trips in three months, carrying 1.21 lakh passengers.
At the same time, two MEMU services are also scheduled to start from the same day - one connecting Varanasi with Prayagraj Rambagh and another connecting Varanasi City with Raja Talab.
Separately, the Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat route is likely to be inaugurated early next month after getting the nod from Ashwini Vaishnaw over six months ago. According to reports, final preparations are under way, but an official confirmation of the launch date is still pending.
The sleeper service between New Delhi and Varanasi could add to premium overnight travel choices, especially during peak festive times. Further announcements regarding fares, booking arrangements, and the confirmed launch schedule will be made on Sprouts News.
