Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw, Pralhad Joshi and HD Kumaraswamy during the flagging off ceremony of the Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, in Bengaluru
Gopal Khandre, a rail enthusiast who travelled from Mumbai for the inaugural journey, said the sub-16-hour connectivity would address a longstanding gap and expressed hope for more such services. Vaishnaw added that India plans to export complete Vande Bharat trains in the next 3-4 years, having already begun exporting propulsion systems to Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy and the US. A future Vande Bharat sleeper service from Bengaluru will connect northern Karnataka via Hubballi to Pune and Mumbai, he announced.
Another passenger, Chinmay Kole, said the train’s faster schedule and convenient timings could also benefit passengers travelling between Pune and Bengaluru. He said the train had been designed with improvements for both loco pilots and passengers, including a separate toilet in the driver’s cabin and redesigned stairs to access middle and upper berths. Upgrades to the propulsion system and coach design would also minimise jerks during travel, he said. “In the coming time, another 3,000 km of bullet train service will be announced and many more corridors like Bengaluru-Pune which covers the entire Karnataka will also be announced,” he said.
Bengaluru: Ending a long wait, Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Sunday flagged off the SMVT Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat sleeper express. It is South India’s first sleeper variant of Vande Bharat and the third such service in the country. India eyeing exports: Minister Addressing the media ahead of the flag-off, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called the launch a proud moment for Karnataka on its foundation day. Vaishnaw, in his address, replied that Bengaluru is a huge city and everybody has the same demand.