New Delhi Bureau
Summary: Regular commercial service of the Varanasi–New Delhi Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, the country’s second sleeper Vande Bharat train and the first for Uttar Pradesh, began on Monday, 2 November 2026. Train number 27421 leaves Varanasi at 8:50 pm and reaches New Delhi at 6:10 am the next morning, while train number 27422 leaves New Delhi at 9:40 pm and reaches Varanasi at 7:10 am the next morning. The train will run six days a week with First AC, Second AC and Third AC accommodation.
Regular service begins: what has changed
The regular commercial operation of the Varanasi–New Delhi Vande Bharat Sleeper Express began on 2 November 2026. The train had been flagged off from Varanasi railway station on 31 October 2026, and it will now run on its fixed schedule six days a week. According to the Railways, the operation and maintenance of this service will rest with the Northern Railway zone.
The new train gives passengers on the Varanasi–New Delhi route a fresh overnight option. Until now, berth availability on night trains on this route has often come under pressure during the festive season. The sleeper Vande Bharat offers speed along with a comfortable night journey, and because it travels overnight, it saves the daytime hours of passengers. For business travellers, students, pilgrims, patients travelling for treatment and their families, and working professionals, this is a practical addition.
Timetable: the full schedule in both directions
Train number 27421, from Varanasi to New Delhi, will run six days a week and will not run on Fridays. It departs Varanasi Junction at 8:50 pm and arrives in New Delhi at 6:10 am the next morning. The journey takes about nine hours and twenty minutes.
In the return direction, train number 27422, from New Delhi to Varanasi, will also run six days a week and will not run on Saturdays. It departs New Delhi at 9:40 pm and arrives in Varanasi at 7:10 am the next morning. The return journey takes about nine hours and thirty minutes.
The overnight timetable is the biggest advantage of this service. Passengers can sleep through the journey and reach their destination in time for the working day. This pattern suits those who travel for work, study, medical care or family reasons and want to avoid losing a full day to travel.
Halts: four stations on the route
Between Varanasi and New Delhi, the sleeper Vande Bharat will halt at four stations: Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, Aligarh and Ghaziabad. The limited number of halts is what makes this train a fast and smooth option on this route.
On the onward journey, the train reaches Prayagraj Junction at 10:35 pm and leaves after a five-minute halt at 10:40 pm for New Delhi. On the return journey, it reaches Prayagraj at 5:05 am. For passengers from Prayagraj, the train is a new overnight option as well.
Halts at Kanpur Central, Aligarh and Ghaziabad mean that passengers from several major cities of Uttar Pradesh will benefit from this service. The Ghaziabad halt also makes the train convenient for passengers from the National Capital Region.
Fare: the full chart for all three classes
The fare between Varanasi and New Delhi has been fixed for all three classes. Third AC costs Rs 1,915, Second AC costs Rs 2,470 and First AC costs Rs 3,030. These fares apply to the full journey from Varanasi to New Delhi.
For passengers travelling between Prayagraj and New Delhi, the fares are lower. From Prayagraj to New Delhi, Third AC costs Rs 1,600, Second AC costs Rs 2,065 and First AC costs Rs 2,530. Fares therefore vary by the station from which a passenger boards, in line with the distance travelled.
There is already discussion about how these fares compare with other premium trains on the same route. Some reports describe the sleeper Vande Bharat fare as competitive for the comfort and speed on offer. In the end, passengers will decide on the basis of their convenience, timing and budget. During the festive season, ticket availability will also be watched closely.
Coaches and facilities: a 16-coach combination
The sleeper Vande Bharat train will have a total of 16 coaches: 11 Third AC coaches, 4 Second AC coaches and 1 First AC coach. Being a sleeper service, it allows passengers to rest on berths through the night. Modern coaches, better suspension and higher speed are the features this train is known for.
Vande Bharat trains are recognised for their modern design, automatic doors, better lighting and attention to passenger facilities. In the sleeper version, these features have been adapted for overnight travel. Passengers can expect comfort, safety and punctuality on a long night journey.
Railway officials have confirmed that regular operation of the train will begin from 2 November. The Chief Public Relations Officer of the North Central Railway has also confirmed that the train will be in regular operation from 2 November. This assurance matters to passengers because it confirms that the service is not limited to the inaugural run but will continue on schedule.
Flag-off and booking: full on the very first day
On 31 October 2026, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the train from Varanasi railway station. The launch drew immediate interest from passengers, and demand for tickets picked up sharply as soon as booking opened.
According to reports, booking for the train opened at around 12:30 am on 1 November. As soon as booking opened, the First AC seats of the train from Varanasi were filled on Sunday itself. On the New Delhi to Varanasi train, no seats were reported to be available in any class, from Third AC to First AC, up to Diwali on 8 November. The early booking picture makes it clear that demand for this train is far above supply in the festive season.
Tickets can be booked through the IRCTC website and through the Rail Connect and RailOne apps. Passengers have been advised to check availability before travelling and to book in advance during festive days, so that they do not face difficulty at the last minute.
What it means for passengers
A large number of passengers travel every day on the Varanasi–New Delhi route. They include business travellers, students, pilgrims, patients travelling for treatment and their families, and working professionals. The new overnight sleeper service gives all of them a fast and comfortable option. Reaching the destination early in the morning means passengers can finish their work the same day.
The timing of the launch, just before Diwali, is also significant. Diwali falls on 8 November, and passenger numbers on the Varanasi–Delhi route rise sharply during this period. A new night train should ease some of that pressure, although the early booking trend shows that demand still exceeds supply, so passengers will need to plan ahead.
The Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper has also begun regular service recently. The expansion of sleeper Vande Bharat services is part of the Railways’ plan to make long-distance overnight travel faster and more modern. Along with facilities such as Digi Yatra at airports, new railway services are also making journeys easier for passengers.
What to watch next
Attention will now turn to how punctual the train remains in its first week of regular service and how passengers respond to it. Festive-season demand, ticket availability and facilities at stations will decide how successful this service becomes. More information about the service may also emerge from the Railways in the coming days.
For passengers, the most important points are to confirm the timetable, halts and fares before travelling. The train will not run from Varanasi on Fridays and will not run from New Delhi on Saturdays, so travel plans for those days of the week need to keep this in mind. With the right planning and advance booking, passengers can make full use of this new service.
The launch of the Varanasi–New Delhi sleeper Vande Bharat is an important milestone for rail facilities in Uttar Pradesh. The service connects not just two cities but also Prayagraj, Kanpur, Aligarh and Ghaziabad to fast overnight travel. How popular it becomes will be clear from passenger demand and response in the days ahead.
Disclaimer: This news has been prepared on the basis of available sources and verification. If any fact is found to be incorrect, a correction will be published.
