India’s second Vande Bharat Sleeper train has officially arrived at the KSR Bengaluru Railway Station, marking a major milestone ahead of its highly anticipated commercial launch. Slated to run on the high-demand Bengaluru-Mumbai route, the orange-and-grey semi-high-speed train will connect KSR Bengaluru with Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), drastically boosting overnight connectivity between Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Manufactured by BEML using technology from the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, the train will undergo rigorous performance trials and safety tests. Commercial operations will commence immediately after receiving final regulatory clearances.
Key Features and Capabilities
- Top Speed: Designed to reach a maximum speed of 180 kmph, though actual operational speeds will be governed by route infrastructure.
- Enhanced Connectivity: The overnight service will provide a premium, faster travel alternative for passengers moving through major hubs like Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, and Pune.
- The Second of Its Kind: This follows India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper service, which launched in January 2026 between Howrah and Kamakhya and successfully slashed travel times by approximately six hours.
Coach Composition & Passenger Capacity
The 16-coach train has a total capacity of 823 passengers, broken down into the following configurations:
| Coach Type | Number of Coaches | Total Berths |
| AC Three-Tier (3AC) | 11 | 611 berths |
| AC Two-Tier (2AC) | 4 | 188 berths |
| First AC (1AC) | 1 | 24 berths |
Next-Gen Comfort & Advanced Safety Features
The Vande Bharat Sleeper is heavily upgraded to ensure a smooth, hygienic, and secure overnight journey:
- Passenger Comfort: Features ergonomically designed berths with superior cushioning, a centralized air-conditioning system, upgraded suspension for a smoother ride, and significantly reduced cabin noise.
- Seamless Mobility: Equipped with automatic plug doors and interconnected vestibules for easy movement between coaches.
- Advanced Safety: Outfitted with the Kavach automatic train protection system, an emergency talk-back communication setup, and an advanced driver control interface.
- Hygiene & Design: Features built-in disinfection technology to maintain onboard cleanliness, alongside an aerodynamically designed exterior for maximum operational efficiency.