The Railway Board is expected to notify the SMVT Bengaluru-Mumbai CSMT Vande Bharat Sleeper soon, with the train likely to be flagged off later this month, reported TOI, providing a faster overnight travel option between the two cities.
Bengaluru-Mumbai travel time to fall below 16 hours
The new sleeper service is expected to connect Bengaluru and Mumbai in less than 16 hours, significantly reducing the current rail travel time between the two cities.
Read more: Bengaluru gets direct Vande Bharat connectivity to Goa via Mangaluru, Udupi & Karwar
Six days a week in both directions
The train is expected to operate six days a week in both directions, according to the current plan. The final timetable is yet to be confirmed.
According to DD News, the Vande Bharat Sleeper will not operate from Bengaluru on Mondays, while the Mumbai-bound service will not run on Tuesdays.
Proposed departure and arrival timings
- Bengaluru to Mumbai: Departs SMVT Bengaluru at 10 pm and arrives at Mumbai CSMT at 1:50 pm the next day
- Mumbai to Bengaluru: Departs Mumbai at 10:30 pm and arrives in Bengaluru at 2:50 pm the next day
Which stations will the Vande Bharat Sleeper stop at?
The service will not pass through Hubballi
Possible stops are likely to be:
- Anantapur
- Guntakal
- Raichur
- Kalaburagi
- Solapur
- Kalyan
How much faster than Udyan Express?
The Udyan Express, currently the only daily direct train between Bengaluru and Mumbai, takes around 24 hours. The new Vande Bharat Sleeper is expected to cut the travel time to less than 16 hours.
What other direct trains run between Bengaluru and Mumbai?
Currently, only two direct trains connect Bengaluru and Mumbai, with the Udyan Express being the only daily service. In September 2025, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya announced plans for a superfast train between the two cities.
Flag-off date yet to be announced
While an official flag-off date is still awaited, railway zones have reportedly been asked to start the service at an early and convenient date.
Long-standing demand for faster Mumbai-Bengaluru rail link
Passengers have been seeking faster rail connectivity between Mumbai and Bengaluru for more than three decades. The proposed Vande Bharat Sleeper is expected to provide a faster overnight travel option between the two cities.
Bengaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat route extended
Apart from Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper, rail connectivity between Bengaluru, coastal Karnataka and Goa is set to get a boost with the extension of the existing Madgaon-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express to Bengaluru via Hassan, Udupi and Karwar.
The extended service will operate as Train Nos. 26655/26656 Yesvantpur-Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express with revised timings.
The extension will create a direct Vande Bharat link between Bengaluru and key destinations across coastal Karnataka, with the service continuing to Madgaon in Goa. It is also expected to cater to growing passenger demand on the Bengaluru-coastal Karnataka-Goa route, which is used by leisure, pilgrimage, education and business travellers.
The service will improve connectivity between Bengaluru, Hassan, Mangaluru, Udupi, Karwar and Madgaon, while strengthening the rail link between Karnataka and Goa. It is also expected to improve access to commercial centres, ports and tourist destinations along the western coast, Kumaraswamy said in a statement.
