Indian Railways plans second Vande Bharat Sleeper on Delhi-Varanasi route

The Indian Railways plans to introduce a second Vande Bharat Sleeper service on the Delhi-Varanasi route, according to a recent report in The Times of India. This train will provide an alternative overnight option for travelers between the national capital and the major cultural destinations in Uttar Pradesh. The Vande Bharat Sleeper is designed to enhance the comfort of long-distance rail travel.The proposed train would depart Varanasi Cantt at 9:20 PM, reaching Prayagraj at around 10:45 PM.

It would then proceed through Kanpur Central at 12:35 AM before arriving in New Delhi at approximately 5 AM. In the opposite direction, the train would depart New Delhi at 9:20 PM and reach Varanasi at 5 AM the following morning. However, these timings are tentative and have not been officially announced by the Railway Board.A 16-coach Sleeper Vande Bharat train, equipped with three classes, is expected to be used for this service.

The train will accommodate 823 passengers, with 11 AC 3-tier coaches, four AC 2-tier coaches, and one First AC coach. The Sleeper Vande Bharat is an air-conditioned train featuring ergonomic berths to improve overnight travel experience.The Railway Ministry has highlighted several key features of the Sleeper Vande Bharat, such as jerk-free semi-permanent couplers, Anti Climbers, KAVACH for security, operating speeds of 160 km/hr to 180 km/hr, fire barrier doors, centrally controlled Automatic Plug Doors, CCTVs in all coaches, emergency talk-back units, and special lavatories for Divyangjan passengers.

The interiors have been modernized, with comfortable berths, improved lighting, and passenger-friendly fittings. The train's washrooms, CCTV cameras, and other amenities are designed to ensure passenger comfort and hygiene.