India’s second Sleeper Vande Bharat Express will connect Varanasi and New Delhi, with scheduled stops at Prayagraj Junction and Kanpur Central. The overnight service is expected to strengthen rail connectivity between eastern Uttar Pradesh and the national capital.
Proposed Schedule and Route
According to the proposed timetable, train number 27421 will depart from Varanasi at 8:50 pm and reach Prayagraj Junction at 10:35 pm. Following a five-minute halt, it will leave Prayagraj at 10:40 pm and arrive at Kanpur Central at 12:40 am. The train is scheduled to reach New Delhi at 5:55 am the following day.
For the return journey, train number 27422 is proposed to depart from New Delhi at 9:40 pm, arrive at Prayagraj at 4:45 am and reach Varanasi at 6:45 am. The service is expected to operate six days a week, except Saturdays, once regular operations commence.
Boost to Overnight Rail Connectivity
The proposed service is expected to provide passengers with an additional premium overnight travel option between eastern Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. For travellers from Prayagraj, it would offer another alternative alongside the Humsafar Express, Shiv Ganga Express and Prayagraj Express.
The overnight schedule could benefit business professionals, working individuals and students by enabling them to reach the national capital early in the morning, reducing the need to devote an entire day to travel. The service is also expected to strengthen rail connectivity among Varanasi, Prayagraj, Kanpur, Aligarh and Delhi.
The first Sleeper Vande Bharat Express commenced operations on January 17 on the Kamakhya (Guwahati)–Howrah (Kolkata) route. The proposed Varanasi–Delhi service would further expand the network of overnight semi-high-speed rail services in India.
Note: The October 31 launch date and the timetable mentioned above were reported as likely or proposed. Passengers should check official Indian Railways announcements for confirmation before planning their journeys.
Also Read: Indian Railways Approves New Tri-Weekly Train Between Machilipatnam and Kurnool City via Vijayawada
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