Vande Bharat sleeper trains now run on three routes, and four more rakes are coming

Overnight train travel in India is getting a new look. Vande Bharat sleeper trains are now running on three key routes, and Indian Railways says more are on the way.

What happened? 🚆

In 2026, the sleeper version of Vande Bharat has been rolled out on Delhi-Varanasi, Mumbai-Bengaluru and Guwahati-Howrah. The Delhi-Varanasi and Mumbai-Bengaluru services were launched just a few days ago.

These are fully air-conditioned overnight trains. They are designed to offer more comfort than Rajdhani Express (India's premium long-distance trains), while cutting travel time with higher average speeds.

Indian Railways now plans to roll out four more rakes (train sets).

What are the booking rules?

Before you plan a trip, note that these trains work differently from most Indian services. Railways has said there is no Tatkal quota (the last-minute booking window) on Vande Bharat sleeper trains.

Only confirmed tickets are allowed for travel, so there is no RAC (reservation against cancellation) or waiting-list travel. Cancellation rules are also stricter, especially if the train is due to leave in under eight hours.

How did we get here?

It has been a long road. Trials of the first sleeper rake, built by BEML at ICF Chennai (the Integral Coach Factory, a major train-coach maker), began in September 2024. The first Vande Bharat sleeper service was flagged off on 1 January 2026, as a fully air-conditioned alternative to the Rajdhani.

What's next?

With four more rakes planned, more routes could follow. Railways has not been named for any new route in the material we have, so keep an eye on official announcements if you want to book one of these overnight runs.

For now, if your route is Delhi-Varanasi, Mumbai-Bengaluru or Guwahati-Howrah, book ahead and make sure your ticket is confirmed.