South India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper to connect Bengaluru and Mumbai: Here are the fare details, timings and stations

South India is gearing up for its first Vande Bharat Sleeper service, which will drastically cut travel time between Bengaluru and Mumbai to just 16 hours. Regular operations on the route are scheduled to begin on March 3, following an official launch by Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at the Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) in Bengaluru on March 1.

Covering a total distance of 1,118 km between Bengaluru SMVT and Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), the high-speed sleeper train is expected to shave off nearly eight hours compared to traditional express trains, which typically take 22 to 24 hours to navigate the route.

Coaches and seat capacity
The 16-coach rake offers a total of 823 berths across three travel classes. This includes 11 Third AC coaches, two Second AC coaches, and one First AC coach, providing a comfortable overnight travel experience for passengers travelling across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

Ticket fares and pricing structure
The base ticket price for Third AC has been set at ₹2,684, while Second AC berths are priced at ₹3,466. Passengers opting for First AC will be charged a base fare of ₹4,250. Final ticket fares will vary depending on catering choices and dynamic pricing options.

Schedule and key stoppages
Train number 27652 will depart from SMVT Bengaluru at 7.45 pm and arrive at Mumbai CSMT at 11.55 am the following day. On the return journey, train number 27651 will depart from Mumbai CSMT at 8.10 pm and reach Bengaluru at 12.00 pm the next afternoon. En route, the Vande Bharat Sleeper will halt at key stations including Dharmavaram, Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Yadgir, Wadi, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune, and Kalyan.