Varanasi-New Delhi overnight Vande Bharat to run from Oct 31: timings
By Siddharth VermaBusiness Correspondent, Peepals Bharat
Representative image: salimpgroad / Pixabay
A Varanasi-New Delhi Vande Bharat sleeper is reported to start on October 31, 2026, leaving Varanasi at 8:50 pm, with bookings due to open October 27.
What Happened
A Vande Bharat sleeper train between Varanasi and New Delhi is set to begin service on October 31, 2026, with ticket bookings expected to open on October 27, according to several reports published between October 23 and 25. The overnight train would leave Varanasi at 8:50 pm and reach New Delhi at about 5:55 am, stopping at Prayagraj and Kanpur Central, with the return run leaving New Delhi at 9:40 pm. Indian Railways had not issued a formal timetable or fare chart at the time of the reports, and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is expected to attend the launch.
Key Facts
- Reported start date: October 31, 2026; bookings reported to open on October 27.
- Train 27421 (reported): leaves Varanasi at 8:50 pm, reaches New Delhi at about 5:55 am.
- Train 27422 (reported): leaves New Delhi at 9:40 pm, reaches Varanasi at 6:45 am.
- Reported stops: Prayagraj and Kanpur Central.
- Reported frequency: six days a week, with no departure from New Delhi on Fridays and none from Varanasi on Saturdays.
- Fares: only unofficial estimates are available, roughly Rs 2,050 to Rs 2,150 for third AC, Rs 2,550 to Rs 2,650 for second AC and Rs 3,150 to Rs 3,250 for first AC; no official fare chart has been confirmed.
Why It Matters
Vande Bharat trains, India's semi-high-speed, locally built trains, have so far run mostly as day services with chair cars. The sleeper version is designed for overnight journeys, with berths in place of seats, and is meant to offer a faster and more comfortable alternative to long-distance express trains on busy routes. Varanasi to Delhi is one of the most heavily travelled corridors in north India, used by pilgrims and tourists heading to Kashi, students, workers and business travellers from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
The reported timings matter for travellers. A departure around 9 pm and arrival before 6 am means passengers can board after a working day and reach their destination early the next morning, saving a night in a hotel and a lost day in travel. The reported running time is about nine hours, and stops at Prayagraj and Kanpur Central connect two more major cities.
For tourism, a fast overnight link between the national capital and Varanasi could make short trips to the city's ghats, temples and the nearby Buddhist site of Sarnath easier to plan, especially for visitors who arrive in India through Delhi. It also fits the railways' wider plan to introduce sleeper Vande Bharat trains on long-distance routes.
Travellers should treat the details as provisional. Train numbers, timings and fares come from news reports, not an official notice, and one report gives a different time for a special inaugural run. Bookings, once open, will be on the Indian Railways reservation system, and reports say only passengers with confirmed berths may board, with no waiting-list or RAC tickets.
Varanasi-New Delhi Vande Bharat sleeper (as reported) Direction | Departs | Arrives Varanasi to New Delhi | 8:50 pm | about 5:55 am New Delhi to Varanasi | 9:40 pm | 6:45 am
Impact
Short-term: Once bookings open, passengers on the Varanasi-Delhi route will have a new overnight option from early November, during the busy Diwali and Chhath travel season.
Long-term: If the service performs well, it could set the pattern for more sleeper Vande Bharat trains on long overnight routes, reducing travel times and pressure on existing express trains.
Who is affected: Passengers between Varanasi, Prayagraj, Kanpur and Delhi; pilgrims and tourists visiting Varanasi; the hospitality sector in the city; and Indian Railways, which is expanding its Vande Bharat network.
Key Takeaway
A Varanasi-New Delhi Vande Bharat sleeper is reported to start on October 31 with overnight timings, but travellers should wait for the official timetable and fares when bookings open.
Questions and Answers
When will the Varanasi-Delhi Vande Bharat sleeper start?
Reports say the service is set to begin on October 31, 2026, with bookings expected to open on October 27. Indian Railways had not issued a formal timetable at the time of the reports.
What are the timings of the Varanasi-Delhi Vande Bharat sleeper?
As reported, it leaves Varanasi at 8:50 pm and reaches New Delhi at about 5:55 am, and the return leaves New Delhi at 9:40 pm, reaching Varanasi at 6:45 am.
Where will the Vande Bharat sleeper stop?
Reports list stops at Prayagraj and Kanpur Central.
What is the fare of the Varanasi-Delhi Vande Bharat sleeper?
No official fare has been announced. Unofficial estimates put third AC at about Rs 2,050 to Rs 2,150, second AC at Rs 2,550 to Rs 2,650 and first AC at Rs 3,150 to Rs 3,250.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Siddharth Verma, Business CorrespondentCovers Business and more for Peepals Bharat. All stories by Siddharth Verma
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Siddharth Verma is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
