The country’s second Vande Bharat Sleeper Train has received approval for the Varanasi-New Delhi route. The proposed service will also halt at Prayagraj and Kanpur Central, offering a new travel option for passengers from Purvanchal, central Uttar Pradesh and Kanpur travelling towards Delhi and Varanasi.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Proposed Timings
As per the proposed schedule, the train will leave Varanasi at 8:40 pm and reach Prayagraj at 10:05 pm. It is expected to arrive at Kanpur Central at around 11:50 pm before reaching New Delhi railway station at approximately 4:50 am.
The Varanasi-New Delhi journey is expected to take around 8 hours and 10 minutes.
For the return journey, the proposed departure time from New Delhi is 11:25 pm. The train is expected to reach Kanpur at around 3:30 am, Prayagraj at 5:38 am and Varanasi at approximately 7:35 am.
However, these timings have not yet been officially released by the Railways. The final timetable and operating dates are expected to be announced after receiving final approval from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
823 Berths Across 16 Coaches
The proposed Vande Bharat Sleeper train will have 16 coaches with around 823 berths. The rake is expected to comprise 11 third-AC coaches, four second-AC coaches and one first-AC coach.
Initially, the train is reportedly planned to operate at a maximum speed of 130 kilometres per hour. There are plans to raise the speed to 160 kilometres per hour at a later stage.
The train rake is reportedly ready for trials. Its stoppage at Kanpur Central is expected to provide an additional fast rail connection for passengers from Kanpur and nearby districts travelling between Delhi and Varanasi.
BHEL and Titagarh Rail Systems Sign Maintenance JV Deal
Separately, state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has signed an agreement with Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd (TRSL) to establish a joint venture for the comprehensive maintenance of Vande Bharat sleeper train sets for 35 years.
BHEL and TRSL will each hold a 50 per cent share in the joint venture. The company will be incorporated as a private limited entity with an initial paid-up share capital of Rs 50 lakh.
The registered office of the proposed joint venture will be located in Delhi.
Disclaimer
The train timings, operating dates and other service details mentioned in this article are based on the proposed schedule and information provided in the source material. Final timings and operational details will be subject to official confirmation by the Indian Railways.