India's 2nd Vande Bharat Sleeper: CM Yogi & Ashwini Vaishnaw to Flag Off on October 31
Marking a major milestone in Indian Railways' semi-high-speed passenger network, the nation's second semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Sleeper Express is scheduled to be flagged off on the premier Varanasi-New Delhi corridor on October 31, 2026. Expected to be jointly inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during a ceremonial event in Varanasi, the state-of-the-art overnight train will dramatically upgrade travel between Kashi, the spiritual heart of Purvanchal, and the national capital. On its inaugural run, the specialized rake is slated to depart Varanasi Junction at 11:00 AM, with grand public receptions and civic felicitations organized along key intermediate stations including Prayagraj Junction, Kanpur Central, and Aligarh Junction before entering New Delhi.
Proposed Timetable and Operational Schedule: Train Numbers 27421 and 27422
Ahead of Northern and North Central Railway releasing the final operational roster, the proposed commercial timetable indicates that the Vande Bharat Sleeper will operate six days a week, excluding Saturdays. Operating as Train Number 27421 from Varanasi to New Delhi, the express will depart Varanasi Junction at 8:50 PM, arriving at Prayagraj Junction at 10:35 PM for a scheduled five-minute operational halt before rolling out at 10:40 PM. Continuing through the night, it will pull into Kanpur Central at 12:40 AM and complete its high-speed transit at New Delhi Railway Station by 5:55 AM the following morning. On its return journey, Train Number 27422 will depart New Delhi at 9:40 PM, reaching Prayagraj at 4:45 AM the next day for a brief five-minute stopover, before pulling into its terminal destination at Varanasi at 6:45 AM, offering an uninterrupted overnight journey engineered for passenger rest and punctuality.
A Game-Changer for Commuters: Competing With Shiv Ganga, Prayagraj, and Humsafar Express
The introduction of the Vande Bharat Sleeper provides business leaders, corporate executives, medical travelers, and students with an elite alternative to legacy overnight services on this heavy-density trunk route, such as the Prayagraj Express, Shiv Ganga Express, and Humsafar Express. By departing Prayagraj at 10:40 PM and pulling into the heart of New Delhi before 6:00 AM, the service allows passengers to arrive at the capital at the start of the business day without wasting daylight hours or enduring grueling layovers. Featuring aerodynamic exteriors, modular sleeper berths, advanced suspension systems, and cutting-edge crash-prevention Kavach safety apparatus, this premium rail corridor marks an infrastructure leap that reinforces Uttar Pradesh's position as a focal point of modern rail transit in India.
