Vande Bharat
Prayagraj: The country’s second Sleeper Vande Bharat Express is likely to be introduced on the Varanasi-New Delhi route on Oct 31, with chief minister Yogi Adityanath and railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expected to flag off the service. A special rake is scheduled to depart from Varanasi at 11 am on the inaugural day. Train number 27421 will depart from Varanasi at 8.50 pm and arrive at Prayagraj Junction at 10.35 pm, according to the proposed schedule. After a five-minute halt, it will leave at 10.40 pm and reach Kanpur Central at 12.40 am, before arriving at New Delhi at 5.55 am the following day. On the return journey, train number 27422 will depart New Delhi at 9.40 pm and reach Prayagraj at 4.45 am the next day. After a five-minute halt, it will continue to Varanasi, arriving there at 6.45 am. The first sleeper Vande Bharat commenced operations on Jan 17 running between Kamakhya (Guwahati) and Howrah (Kolkata).
Stay updated with the latest Prayagraj news. Preparations are underway to welcome the train at Prayagraj Junction, Kanpur Central and Aligarh Junction. The railway administration is expected to announce the final timetable for regular operations soon. For passengers from Prayagraj travelling to Delhi, the new train will offer another premium rail travel option alongside the Humsafar Express, Shiv Ganga Express and Prayagraj Express. Once regular services commence, the Sleeper Vande Bharat is expected to run six days a week, except on Saturdays. The introduction of the Sleeper Vande Bharat is expected to provide a faster overnight travel option between eastern Uttar Pradesh and the national capital, while strengthening connectivity between Prayagraj, Delhi and other major cities along the route. It will allow businesspeople, working professionals and students from Prayagraj to reach the national capital early in the morning without losing an entire day to travel. Download the TOI App.