New Delhi, Nov 2 The Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper train, flagged off by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on November 1, is said to be the fastest train operating on the route and offers modern amenities to passengers. However, it is also significantly more expensive than other trains plying on the route.
Its fare for AC 3 Tier is 60–96 per cent higher than those of other trains on the route, with AC 2 Tier and AC 1 also 65–78 per cent and 20–30 per cent, respectively, pricier than equivalent coaches on existing trains.
With its commercial operations having commenced from Mumbai on November 2, the train has already received a good response, with all classes fully booked and passengers being placed on waiting lists for the next couple of weeks.
Officials said that while other trains take nearly 22 hours or more to cover the distance of over 1,100 km between Bengaluru and Mumbai, the Vande Bharat Sleeper is the fastest, completing the journey in just 16 hours and 10 minutes and saving passengers almost six hours of travel time.
The fare of the Vande Bharat Sleeper between Bengaluru and Mumbai is Rs 2,810, Rs 3,630 and Rs 4,450 for AC 3 Tier, AC 2 Tier and AC 1 Tier, respectively.
After the Vande Bharat Sleeper, among the fastest trains on the route is the Coimbatore–Mumbai LTT Express (Train No. 11014), which takes approximately 21 hours and 55 minutes to reach Mumbai from Bengaluru. Its fares for AC 3 Tier, AC 2 Tier and AC 1 Tier are Rs 1,435, Rs 2,045 and Rs 3,425, respectively.
Another train, the Ajmer Express, takes around 22 hours to cover almost the same distance. Its fare structure is Rs 1,510, Rs 2,155 and Rs 3,610 for AC 3 Tier, AC 2 Tier and AC 1 Tier, respectively. Even compared with the premium Humsafar Express, the Vande Bharat Sleeper’s AC 3 fare is nearly 63% higher. The Humsafar Express has an AC 3 fare of Rs 1,725, compared with Rs 2,810 for the Vande Bharat Sleeper.
Officials said that around 22 trains operate between Mumbai and Bengaluru or their nearby stations.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has justified the higher fares of various trains in Parliament, stating that fares are based on the facilities provided and that different types of train services cater to different passenger segments.
“The fares of various trains/classes are based on the facilities provided in these trains. Indian Railways (IR) run various types of train services for different types of passenger segments. Evaluation and rationalization of passenger fares, including those of Vande Bharat trains, is a continuous and on-going process,” Vaishnaw had said in the Lok Sabha in March 2025.
Following the flag-off ceremony on Sunday, the Railway Ministry said that the new Vande Bharat Sleeper Express would establish an important overnight rail link between the two metropolitan centres.
“The new service will offer passengers an additional convenient travel option, enabling them to undertake long-distance journeys overnight and reach their destination the following day,” the Ministry stated.
The train will connect important stations along its route, including Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Yadgir, Wadi, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune and Kalyan.
This will strengthen connectivity across parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, providing improved access to important commercial, educational and regional centres, the Ministry stated.
The train will depart from SMVT Bengaluru at 1945 hours and arrive at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai, at 1155 hours the following day. In the return direction, it will depart from CSMT at 2010 hours and reach SMVT Bengaluru at 1200 hours the next day.
The service will operate six days a week, except on Mondays in the Bengaluru-originating direction and Tuesdays in the Mumbai-originating direction.
(PTI News)
