New Bengaluru-Mumbai Sleeper Train Set to Boost Connectivity
A new Vande Bharat sleeper service linking Bengaluru and Mumbai has been launched, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling it a potential game changer for rail connectivity. The train was flagged off on Sunday, and the Prime Minister said it would bring faster travel between the two major cities.
In a post on X that he shared from Indian Railways, Modi said the service represents another step toward better rail connectivity. He said the launch from Bengaluru, a centre of technology and innovation, would help strengthen the country's modern transport framework.
The Prime Minister said the train would serve passengers in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. He pointed to youth, IT professionals and students as key beneficiaries, noting that the journey would be more convenient and speedy for them.
The Railway Ministry said Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat sleeper train along with other dignitaries. It said the service aims to offer long-distance travellers modern facilities and a better overall experience.
Just a day earlier, Vaishnaw had announced the Prime Minister's approval for the Northern Corridor of the bullet train network. During the launch of the Varanasi-New Delhi Vande Bharat sleeper express, he said the corridor would connect Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Patna and Siliguri, and extend to Guwahati.
The proposed corridor is expected to deliver major time savings. Planned travel times include 59 minutes between Delhi and Agra, 1 hour 45 minutes between Delhi and Kanpur, 2 hours 12 minutes between Delhi and Lucknow, and 3 hours 33 minutes between Delhi and Varanasi. Lucknow to Varanasi is projected to take 1 hour 21 minutes.
Vaishnaw also rejected opposition claims that bullet trains would be only for the rich. He said the perception was incorrect, adding that fares would be much lower than air travel and within the reach of the general public.
He reiterated that the government wants to develop fast, modern and accessible transport so that more people can benefit from it.