New Delhi [India], October 28 : The second Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, connecting Varanasi with New Delhi, is set to be inaugurated on October 31, with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath scheduled to jointly inaugurate the train.
The Railway Board has approved the operation of the new Vande Bharat Sleeper Express between New Delhi and Varanasi. According to a notification issued by the Railway Board on October 27, the train will operate under numbers 27421 and 27422.
The train will also stop at Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, Aligarh and Ghaziabad, providing connectivity to passengers travelling between the national capital and several key cities in Uttar Pradesh.
The Vande Bharat Sleeper is Indian Railways' next-generation, self-propelled, 16-coach air-conditioned sleeper train designed for long-distance overnight journeys. Developed under the Make in India initiative, the train is designed to offer faster, safer and more comfortable travel.
The train has a tested speed of 180 kmph and an operational speed of 160 kmph. It has a total of 823 berths, including 24 in First AC, 188 in AC 2-Tier and 611 in AC 3-Tier.
The train is equipped with 52 vacuum toilets, sealed gangways and mini-pantries to improve passenger comfort and convenience during overnight journeys.
In terms of safety, the Vande Bharat Sleeper incorporates EN 15227 crashworthiness standards and EN 45545 HL3 fire-safety standards. It is also equipped with the indigenous KAVACH train protection system, CCTV surveillance and fire-suppression systems.
The train features regenerative braking technology to improve energy efficiency, making it part of Indian Railways' efforts to modernise long-distance passenger services.
The introduction of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express on the New Delhi-Varanasi route is expected to provide passengers with an upgraded overnight travel option, connecting the national capital with one of Uttar Pradesh's major cities.