Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has confirmed that a Vande Bharat sleeper train connecting Bengaluru and Mumbai has received official approval, marking a significant step toward improving long-distance rail connectivity between the two major cities.
The proposed service will operate between KSR Bengaluru City Railway Station and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. Vaishnaw communicated the development to Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan, who shared the update publicly on April 11.
While the project has been cleared, details regarding the train’s schedule, route, and stoppages are yet to be finalised. Commuters have already begun suggesting possible timings, with many indicating that the journey duration should ideally be kept under 16 hours. Some passengers proposed a daily service departing Mumbai at 5 pm, reaching Pune by 8 pm and Bengaluru by 9 am. For the return journey, a similar departure from Bengaluru at 5 pm, arrival in Pune by 6 am, and Mumbai by 9 am has been suggested as a convenient schedule.
Currently, there are no premium trains such as Vande Bharat or Duronto operating on this route. The only direct daily service is the Udyan Express, which covers approximately 1,134 km, stops at 33 stations, and takes nearly 22 hours to complete the journey at an average speed of 52 kmph.
By road, the distance between the two cities is about 984 km, with a travel time of 15-17 hours.
The approval follows earlier announcements, including one by Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya in September 2025 regarding a new superfast train, fulfilling a long-standing demand for improved connectivity between India’s IT and financial hubs.
Source: Money Control
