Second Vande Bharat Sleeper train to run between Bengaluru and Mumbai
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced a new sleeper service via Hubballi to connect northern Karnataka with Pune and Mumbai.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday flagged off the Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper train from Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) in Bengaluru. According to The Indian Express, the minister also announced that a second Vande Bharat Sleeper train will run between Bengaluru and Mumbai via Hubballi to connect northern Karnataka with Pune and Mumbai.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the new service would be a game changer for rail connectivity between the two cities, benefiting Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. He noted that the train would particularly benefit students, IT professionals and youngsters.
The first Vande Bharat Sleeper train on the Bengaluru-Mumbai route will stop at eight stations, including Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Yadgir, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune, and Kalyan. A total of two Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets will be deployed on this route.
Vaishnaw also announced a new Vande Bharat Chair Car service between Bengaluru and Mangaluru. He stated that the service will be available within the next few weeks following the completion of electrification and testing.
The Railway Board previously approved a Vande Bharat Chair Car service between Yesvantpur and Madgaon via Mangaluru Junction on October 30. The Yesvantpur-Madgaon service will operate six days a week, except on Wednesdays, and will stop at 12 railway stations during its journey.