Yogi Adityanath, Ashwini Vaishnaw to Flag Off Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains Between Varanasi and Delhi Tomorrow

New Delhi : Indian Railways is set to introduce new Vande Bharat Sleeper Express services between Varanasi and New Delhi, offering passengers a faster and more comfortable overnight travel option. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will flag off the trains from Varanasi tomorrow.

The new service will strengthen connectivity between Varanasi, a major pilgrimage and cultural destination, and the national capital. It is expected to benefit pilgrims, tourists, students, professionals and families travelling between eastern Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

The train will connect Varanasi, Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, Aligarh and Ghaziabad before reaching New Delhi, extending modern rail connectivity to several important urban centres.

According to the announced schedule, the Varanasi-New Delhi service will depart at 8:50 pm and arrive at 6:10 am the following morning. In the return direction, the train will leave New Delhi at 9:40 pm and reach Varanasi at 7:10 am.

Compared with the existing Shiv Ganga Express, the new Vande Bharat Sleeper service will reduce travel time by 55 minutes from Varanasi to New Delhi and by 35 minutes on the return journey.

The service will operate six days a week, except Fridays for the Varanasi-originating train and Saturdays for the New Delhi-originating service.

Designed for long-distance overnight journeys, the Vande Bharat Sleeper features modern sleeper accommodation, regenerative braking, advanced safety systems, noise insulation, automatic sliding doors and improved passenger amenities.

Its safety features include the Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), fire and smoke detection systems, CCTV surveillance and emergency passenger alarm buttons. Passenger facilities include USB charging ports, Wi-Fi connectivity, accessible berths and toilets, vacuum-operated toilets and hot-water showers in First AC.

The introduction of the service follows the expansion of Vande Bharat Sleeper operations on the Howrah-Guwahati corridor in January 2026. The latest addition is expected to further strengthen Indian Railways’ efforts to modernise long-distance overnight travel.