India's Second Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Is Being Tested on the Delhi-Varanasi Route

Indian Railways has begun trial runs of its second Vande Bharat Sleeper train, this one proposed for an overnight Delhi-Varanasi route running via Prayagraj and Kanpur. As of late September 2026, officials are reportedly targeting a commercial launch around the Diwali festival period, though the Railway Board has yet to formally confirm a launch date, final timetable or fares.

The proposed route and schedule

Under the schedule currently being discussed, the southbound train would depart New Delhi at 9.20pm and reach Varanasi by around 5am the following morning, calling at Kanpur Central and Prayagraj along the way; the return service would run to a similar timing in reverse. The route mirrors a corridor already served by several day trains but is aimed at travellers wanting an overnight option between the capital and one of India's most visited pilgrimage cities.

What the train offers

The rake is reported to be a 16-coach formation with 11 AC 3-tier coaches, four AC 2-tier coaches and one First AC coach, giving a capacity of more than 800 passengers, broadly similar in configuration to India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper. It falls under Indian Railways' Mission Raftar push to raise average running speeds on key sleeper corridors, with the new train expected to operate at speeds of up to around 160 km/h depending on track conditions.

Still to be confirmed

Several outlets have reported a targeted launch before or around Diwali, which falls in November 2026, based on the pace of trial runs, but Indian Railways has not issued an official confirmation of the commercial start date, fare structure or booking opening. Timelines for new train launches in India have shifted before, so travellers hoping to book this specific service should treat any pre-Diwali date as provisional until the Railway Board makes a formal announcement.

Confirm before you book

Travellers planning a Delhi-Varanasi trip around the festive season should check the Indian Railways website (indianrail.gov.in) or the IRCTC app for the official launch announcement, confirmed timetable and fare details before finalising plans, rather than relying on unconfirmed reports of a specific date.

Traveller tips

• Until an official date is confirmed, existing day trains and other running Vande Bharat services remain the confirmed options on this corridor.
• Diwali 2026 falls in November, historically one of the busiest periods for rail travel in and out of Varanasi; booking well ahead is advisable regardless of which train is used.
• Prayagraj, roughly midway on the route, is a common add-on stop for travellers combining a Varanasi trip with a visit to the Sangam.
• Always confirm current train numbers, timings and fares directly on indianrail.gov.in or the IRCTC app before travel.