Mumbai
oi-Madhuri Adnal
The Pune-Bengaluru rail journey could soon become significantly faster, with Indian Railways approving the Mumbai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat sleeper service. The new train is expected to reduce travel time on the Pune-Bengaluru route to around 13 hours, offering a quicker and more comfortable option for passengers.
The train will pass through key stations including Pune, Solapur and Wadi, directly benefiting travellers between Pune and Bengaluru. For many regular commuters, this could mean a more efficient overnight journey with reduced travel fatigue.
Indian Railways approved the Mumbai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat sleeper service, expected to reduce the Pune-Bengaluru travel time to approximately 13 hours. This 16-coach train will operate six days a week via Pune and Kalyana Karnataka, enhancing comfort and safety for over 800 passengers.
Pune-Bengaluru route gets faster as 16-coach Vande Bharat sleeper cleared
At present, trains such as the Udyan Express take around 18 hours 15 minutes, while the Coimbatore Express takes close to 19 hours 20 minutes to complete the Pune-Bengaluru stretch. The proposed Vande Bharat sleeper is expected to bring down this duration by nearly five hours.
The approval was confirmed by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a communication dated April 5 to Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan. The minister noted that the new Vande Bharat sleeper service between KSR Bengaluru and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus has been cleared to improve public convenience.
The service is expected to run six days a week, with one day reserved for maintenance. Two train sets are likely to be deployed, with departures scheduled around 9 pm from both Mumbai and Bengaluru, making it a convenient overnight option for Pune passengers as well.
The train will feature modern amenities, including the indigenous Kavach safety system designed to prevent collisions. It will have a 16-coach configuration, including AC three-tier, AC two-tier and AC first-class coaches, with a total capacity of over 800 berths.
Passengers have welcomed the move, highlighting the impact on travel time. “Cutting down the journey by several hours will make a big difference, especially for those who travel frequently between Pune and Bengaluru,” said Rahul Deshmukh, an IT professional.
Another passenger, Sneha Murkuti, said the addition of sleeper coaches will make overnight journeys more comfortable. “It’s a much-needed upgrade compared to existing trains,” she added.
For frequent travellers, the change is expected to improve not just speed but also convenience. A shorter overnight journey could make rail travel a more practical option compared to long road trips or flights, especially for those balancing time and cost.
Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat route
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has said that the newly approved Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat sleeper train will operate via the Kalyana Karnataka route, following his request to improve connectivity through the region.
According to him, the train will run from KSR Bengaluru to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, passing through key parts of Kalyana Karnataka, while a previously approved Bengaluru-Mumbai superfast train via Tumakuru, Davanagere, Haveri, Hubballi-Dharwad and Belagavi is also expected to be upgraded into a Vande Bharat sleeper in the future.
Joshi noted that the move will boost regional connectivity, enhance commercial activity and provide better travel facilities, while thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for approving the proposal.
