NEW DELHI, Oct 31: The first Vande Bharat Sleeper Express train between Varanasi and New Delhi was flagged off at Varanasi station by the Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and the Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday, opening up a faster and more comfortable overnight travel option for passengers between eastern UP and the national capital.
The new service is expected to benefit people who frequently travel between the two regions. Passengers will be able to board the train at night in Varanasi and reach New Delhi early the following morning.
Designed specifically for long-distance overnight journeys, the Vande Bharat Sleeper comes with upgraded passenger amenities, improved safety arrangements and modern technology to make travel more convenient.
The Varanasi-New Delhi Vande Bharat Sleeper Express will operate six days a week, connecting five major destinations along its route. During its journey, the train will stop at Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, Aligarh and Ghaziabad before reaching New Delhi. The train will offer a convenient alternative for passengers who prefer travelling overnight rather than spending a large part of the day on the journey.
According to the timetable released by the Railways, the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express will depart from Varanasi at 8:50 pm and arrive at New Delhi railway station at 6:10 am the following day. For the return journey, the train will leave New Delhi at 9:40 pm and reach Varanasi at 7:10 am the next morning. The service will run six days a week. The Varanasi-originating train will not operate on Fridays, while the New Delhi-originating service will remain suspended on Saturdays.
The new service is also expected to save travel time compared to the existing Shiv Ganga Express. According to the Railway Ministry, it will reduce the journey duration by 55 minutes in the Varanasi-Delhi direction and 35 minutes on the return route.
The new Vande Bharat Sleeper has been designed to make long-distance overnight journeys more comfortable. Its coaches feature ergonomically designed berths, improved suspension systems and noise-reduction arrangements to ensure a smoother and quieter travel experience.
Passengers will also have access to multiple charging options, including USB Type-A and Type-C ports, along with three-pin electrical sockets for charging mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices. The upgraded interiors and passenger-friendly arrangements are aimed at making overnight travel more convenient, particularly for families and working professionals.
Passenger safety has also received considerable attention in the design of the new train. The coaches are equipped with CCTV cameras to strengthen on-board surveillance, along with smoke and fire detection systems to identify potential emergencies. Other safety arrangements include emergency alarm facilities and the Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), which is designed to help prevent train collisions. Special provisions have also been made for passengers with disabilities. These include dedicated berths and specially designed toilet facilities to make their journey more accessible.
(Manas Dasgupta)