Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today flagged off the Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Train at Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi, H.D. Kumaraswamy, Shobha Karandlaje, and V Somanna were also present on the occasion. Speaking at the event, Mr. Vaishnaw said that the train will seamlessly connect India’s IT and startup hub with its financial capital.  

 

The 16-coach Bengaluru-Mumbai Sleeper Vande Bharat train will cover the journey between the two cities in around 16 hours. The train will run six days a week, except Mondays from Bengaluru and Tuesdays from Mumbai. It will stop at Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Yadgir, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune, and Kalyan. Mr. Vaishnaw said this route covers parts of Northern Karnataka that were previously unserved by a world-class train.  

 

Mr. Vaishnaw also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi hasapproved the bullet train’s south corridor for Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Amravati, and Chennai. He added that once completed, travel time from Bengaluru to Chennai will be 73 minutes.  Furthermore, Mr. Vaishnaw said the Mangaluru to Bengaluru Vande Bharat will be operational within the next few weeks.  

 

The Vande Bharat Sleeper train offers First AC, AC Two-Tier, and AC Three-Tier accommodation, with cushioned berths, integrated reading lights, mobile charging points, and ample luggage space. Passengers will benefit from touch-free bio-vacuum toilets, automatic doors, onboard infotainment, and GPS-based passenger information displays. First AC coaches will additionally offer hot-water shower facilities. For passenger safety, the train is equipped with CCTV cameras, fire detection systems, and emergency communication facilities.