Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Service Set to Launch This Month with Six-Day Schedule
Indian Railways is preparing to launch South India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper service connecting KSR Bengaluru and Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, with operations anticipated to commence this month. According to The Hindu, approved by the Railway Board based on administrative minutes from February 2026, the premium overnight service aims to slash travel time between the two major commercial and tech hubs to under 16 hours.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw previously indicated that the route would serve as South India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper. Furthermore, the board has instructed the relevant railway zones to take necessary steps to introduce the service at an early convenient date.
According to The Hindu, for Vande Bharat Sleeper Operating Timetable, The service operates six days weekly, with Bengaluru-Mumbai runs operating except on Mondays and Mumbai-Bengaluru runs operating except on Tuesdays using two dedicated rakes.
The proposed service will operate six days a week, running in both directions with specific day-of-week exclusions. Train 27652 will depart from KSR Bengaluru at 10:00 p.m. and arrive at CSMT Mumbai at 1:50 p.m. the following day, while the return service, Train 27651, will leave Mumbai at 10:30 p.m. and arrive in Bengaluru at 2:50 p.m. The journey is structured to bypass Hubballi, utilizing an alignment featuring seven intermediate stops including Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune, and Kalyan.
Rake Allocation and Technical Specifications
The corridor will be serviced using 16-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets manufactured by BEML in collaboration with the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. Each trainset provides total accommodation for 823 passengers across three classes, comprising eleven Third AC coaches, four Second AC coaches, and one First AC coach. The air-conditioned rakes feature modern amenities such as automatic exterior sliding doors, sensor-based water taps, bio-vacuum toilets, individual reading lights, digital information displays, and onboard catering options.
Safety Systems and Operational Arrangements
For enhanced passenger safety, the trainsets are equipped with the indigenous Kavach automatic train protection system and emergency talk-back mechanisms. Railway authorities have identified Pune and Solapur as key operational nodes for watering and maintenance terminal arrangements. Zonal railways have been instructed by the Railway Board to finalize scheduling and commence operations at an early, convenient date, potentially utilizing an initial special service run before integrating the train into the regular timetable.