Full Breakdown
Second Sleeper Vande Bharat Express Planned for the Varanasi-New Delhi Corridor
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Planned launch and flag-off ceremony
The Indian Railways is preparing to introduce its second Sleeper Vande Bharat Express on the Varanasi-New Delhi route on October 31. Media reports indicate that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw are expected to flag off the service, although the railway authority has not issued an official confirmation. Ticket reservations are projected to open on October 27, giving passengers a short window before the scheduled inauguration.
Proposed timetable and service frequency
The tentative schedule assigns train number 27421 to the Varanasi-New Delhi run, departing Varanasi at 8:50 p.m. and reaching New Delhi at 6:55 a.m. the following morning. En-route stops include Prayagraj (arrival 10:35 p.m., departure 10:40 p.m.) and Kanpur Central (arrival 12:20 a.m., departure 12:45 a.m.). The return service, train number 27422, is slated to leave New Delhi at 9:40 p.m., arrive at Prayagraj at 4:45 a.m., and reach Varanasi at 6:45 a.m. Once regular operations begin, the train is expected to run six days a week, excluding Saturdays.
Coach composition and passenger capacity
The sleeper variant will comprise 16 LHB air-conditioned coaches: one First AC coach, four Second AC coaches, and eleven Third AC coaches. The configuration is designed to accommodate roughly 823 passengers per trip. Maintenance activities are planned for the Varanasi depot, with water-refilling facilities to be provided at Prayagraj and Kanpur Central stations.
Anticipated impact on travel in eastern Uttar Pradesh
By offering an overnight, fully air-conditioned berth service, the new train aims to shorten travel time between eastern Uttar Pradesh and the national capital, allowing businesspeople, professionals and students to reach Delhi early in the morning without an entire day’s loss. It joins existing premium options such as the Humsafar Express, Shiv Ganga Express and Prayagraj Express. The introduction follows the first sleeper Vande Bharat, launched on January 17, 2026 between Kamakhya (Guwahati) and Howrah (Kolkata) and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.