Indian Railways Approves Varanasi–New Delhi Vande Bharat Sleeper Express Service
The Railway Board sanctioned the introduction of an overnight Vande Bharat Sleeper Express operating between Varanasi and New Delhi. Railway Board approval concerns the proposed service designated 27421/27422; a commercial commencement date has not been announced. The sixteen-coach rake configuration accommodates 823 passengers across AC First Class, AC Two-Tier, and AC Three-Tier classes. Third AC accommodations provide 611 berths, while Second AC offers 188 berths and First AC includes 24 spaces. Train number 27422 will depart New Delhi at 9:40 pm and conclude its overnight journey in Varanasi at 7:10 am. In the return direction, train number 27421 will leave Varanasi at 8:50 pm to reach the national capital at 6:10 am. The approved timetable envisages six services per week in each direction, with no departures from Varanasi on Fridays or New Delhi on Saturdays once operations begin.
The proposed schedule indicates overnight journey times of roughly nine and a half hours, subject to final railway operating notices. Designated intermediate commercial stoppages include Ghaziabad, Aligarh, Kanpur Central, and Prayagraj Junction. Engineering manufacturing was executed by public enterprise BEML utilizing technical expertise developed by Chennai's Integral Coach Factory. The trainset features an aerodynamic exterior profile, superior suspension architecture, and automated passenger vestibule doors. Onboard passenger safety mechanisms incorporate the indigenous Kavach collision prevention system and emergency communication talk-back units. Passenger amenities include ergonomically designed berths with improved cushioning, noise reduction materials, and specialized toilet disinfection technology. The trainset has an engineered operational velocity rating capable of reaching up to 180 kilometers per hour.
The rolling stock layout allocates eleven coaches for three-tier accommodations, four coaches for two-tier travel, and one coach for first-class passengers. Rail transport planners noted that the overnight connection provides convenient transit options connecting key urban centers across Uttar Pradesh with Delhi. The service will be maintained and operated under the administrative jurisdiction of Northern Railway. Primary technical maintenance will be conducted in Varanasi, while secondary servicing routines will take place in New Delhi. Dedicated water refilling facilities will be positioned at Kanpur Central and Prayagraj to service intermediate operational requirements. The proposed overnight route would serve passengers between Delhi and eastern Uttar Pradesh; its start date remains unannounced. Two pairs of Vande Bharat chair car trains currently run at capacity along the national capital to Varanasi corridor. The Railway Board has approved the proposed service, but no confirmed ceremonial inaugural run date was published in the contemporary source reviewed. Railway officials have not yet publicly confirmed a launch ceremony or a list of expected dignitaries. Authorities directed relevant railway operational zones to conclude preparatory logistics while final commercial operational schedules await release.
India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 17, 2026 on the Howrah-Kamakhya route, covering the distance between West Bengal and Assam in around 14 hours, according to The Times of India.
There is no provision for Reservation Against Cancellation tickets on Vande Bharat Sleeper trains, with waiting list passengers obtaining confirmed tickets only when confirmed reservations are cancelled, according to The Times of India.
Vande Bharat Sleeper reservation arrangements include lower berth quotas of four to five lower berths per coach in 3AC and three to four lower berths per coach in 2AC for senior citizens, female passengers aged 45 and above, and pregnant women.
The Times of India describes per-kilometre fare bands for Vande Bharat Sleeper services; final fares for the new route require an official ticketing announcement.