Representative image. Photo: Sameer2905, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Why it matters
Bengaluru and Mumbai are two of India's busiest business cities, yet the fastest direct trains between them take close to a full day. A 16-hour overnight option could save travellers six hours or more and give towns like Kalaburagi and Solapur a quicker link to both cities. It will also be the first Vande Bharat sleeper in south India, so how it is priced and timed may shape later routes.
The Vande Bharat sleeper train between Bengaluru and Mumbai is likely to be flagged off on 1 November 2026, the day Karnataka marks Rajyotsava, with regular trips for the public from 2 November, according to The Hindu and Deccan Herald. The overnight service would bring the journey down to roughly 16 hours, against 22 to 24 hours on the trains that run today. The Railway Board has not yet issued the formal notification that fixes the timetable.
When the Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat sleeper starts
Both newspapers cite railway sources for the 1 November date. The Hindu reported that sources in South Western Railway expect Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to flag off the first run. Deccan Herald said the regular service is expected to begin the next day, 2 November.
The train has been on the cards for months. A Railway Board communication seen by The Hindu shows the service was cleared after a meeting held on 16 February 2026. It will run as train number 27652 from Bengaluru and 27651 from Mumbai, with two trainsets assigned to the route. Deccan Herald reported that the 16-coach sets are built by BEML and that the railways recently held a trial run on the steep ghat section between Mumbai and Pune.
Once it runs, this will be the first Vande Bharat sleeper in south India and the second in the country.
Vande Bharat sleeper timings: two versions so far
The published schedules do not yet match, so passengers should treat every timing as provisional.
The proposed timetable in the Railway Board document, as reported by The Hindu, has train 27652 leaving KSR Bengaluru at 10 pm and reaching Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai at 1.50 pm the next day. On the way back, train 27651 would leave CSMT at 10.30 pm and reach KSR Bengaluru at 2.50 pm. That works out to about 15 hours 50 minutes northbound and 16 hours 20 minutes southbound.
Deccan Herald’s tentative schedule is different. It has the train starting from Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) in Bengaluru at 7.50 pm and reaching CSMT at 11.55 am, a run of 16 hours and 5 minutes. The return would leave Mumbai at 8.10 pm and arrive at SMVT at 11.55 am, taking 15 hours and 45 minutes. Business Today and The Times of India reported the same SMVT timings. Deccan Herald noted that rail users had wanted the service to use KSR Bengaluru, the city’s main station.
Either way, the Vande Bharat sleeper would run six days a week. According to The Hindu, the Bengaluru to Mumbai service would not run on Mondays and the Mumbai to Bengaluru service would skip Tuesdays.
Stops on the Guntakal route
The train will use the Guntakal route, Deccan Herald reported. The newspaper listed the expected halts as Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune and Kalyan. The Hindu’s version of the timetable also names Dharmavaram and Wadi, and says Solapur and Pune will be used for refilling water and other servicing.
Business Today put the distance at about 1,118 km across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. At 16 hours, that is an average of roughly 70 km an hour including stops. The first Vande Bharat sleeper, between Kamakhya in Assam and Howrah in West Bengal, covers about 972 km in around 14 hours, The Hindu reported, so the two services would run at a similar pace.
For towns such as Kalaburagi, Raichur and Solapur, the train would add a faster direct link to both Mumbai and Bengaluru without a change of train.
How many berths the Vande Bharat sleeper offers
Each 16-coach rake carries 823 passengers, according to The Hindu. There are 11 third AC coaches with 611 berths, four second AC coaches with 188 berths and one first AC coach with 24 berths. There is no general or sleeper class, so this is an all-AC premium service.
If both directions run six days a week, the route would add about 12 one-way trips and close to 9,900 berths a week between the two cities.
The coaches have automatic sliding doors, CCTV cameras, bio-vacuum toilets, reading lights, charging points and digital information screens. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals will be served. The trains carry Kavach, India’s own automatic train protection system that can apply brakes if a driver misses a signal.
Fares and bookings are not out yet
Indian Railways has not announced Vande Bharat sleeper ticket prices for this route. Business Today said the fare structure and booking details will depend on the official announcement, and some indicative fares quoted online have not been confirmed by the railways.
The Hindu said the first Vande Bharat sleeper began commercial service on 22 January 2026, and these trains are meant for overnight trips of 800 km to 1,200 km as an alternative to premium services such as the Rajdhani Express. Officials told the newspaper that the final timetable and other details will be confirmed in the Railway Board’s formal notification. Until that is out, the 1 November date, the starting station in Bengaluru and the exact timings could still change. Full details of the proposed timetable are in The Hindu’s report.
Frequently asked questions
When will the Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat sleeper start?
Railway sources told The Hindu and Deccan Herald it is likely to be flagged off on 1 November 2026, with regular service from 2 November. The Railway Board has not issued the formal notification yet.
What are the Vande Bharat sleeper timings between Bengaluru and Mumbai?
They are provisional. A Railway Board document reported by The Hindu shows a 10 pm departure from KSR Bengaluru reaching Mumbai CSMT at 1.50 pm. Deccan Herald reported a 7.50 pm departure from SMVT Bengaluru reaching CSMT at 11.55 am.
What is the fare of the Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat sleeper?
Indian Railways has not announced fares. Business Today said the fare structure and booking details depend on the official announcement.
Which stations will the train stop at?
Expected halts are Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune and Kalyan, according to Deccan Herald. The Hindu's timetable also lists Dharmavaram and Wadi.