PM Modi Says Kashi-Delhi Sleeper Train Blends Faith and Progress

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has welcomed the upcoming launch of Uttar Pradesh's first Vande Bharat sleeper train from Varanasi, describing it as a service that will bring together spiritual journeys and modern rail travel. The train is scheduled to begin operations on Saturday.

Modi said the Kashi-Delhi service would make journeys smoother for lakhs of pilgrims, tourists, young people and businesspeople. He also called the train the second Vande Bharat sleeper service in India, noting that it is equipped with modern comforts and advanced safety features.

Highlighting the spiritual dimension of the route, the Prime Minister said that whether travellers were visiting Baba Vishwanath or heading to the Sangam at Prayagraj, the train would link faith with opportunity and tradition with modernity.

The launch event will take place at Banaras railway station at around 3:30 pm on Saturday. New MEMU trains will also be introduced at the same event. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will flag off the train.

The Railway Ministry stated that the service would strengthen ties between Varanasi and the national capital. Varanasi, a major spiritual and cultural hub, receives pilgrims, students, domestic and foreign tourists, and visitors from many other regions throughout the year. Better overnight rail connectivity to New Delhi is expected to ease travel for people going there for religious, educational, business, administrative and tourism purposes.

The train will run via Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, Aligarh and Ghaziabad. Officials said these stations connect important cities and nearby districts, widening access to modern rail travel.

Timings for the train are as follows. It will leave Varanasi at 8:50 pm and arrive in New Delhi at 6:10 am the next day. On the return trip, it will depart New Delhi at 9:40 pm and reach Varanasi at 7:10 am the following morning.

The ministry added that the sleeper service would reduce journey time by 55 minutes on the Varanasi to New Delhi route and by 35 minutes on the reverse route, compared with the current Shiv Ganga Express. The train will operate six days a week and will not run from Varanasi on Fridays or from New Delhi on Saturdays.