Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday, 1 November 2026, flagged off the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express connecting Bengaluru and Mumbai from Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) in Bengaluru, marking the launch on the occasion of Kannada Rajyotsava. The overnight service is the third Vande Bharat train on this corridor and is expected to significantly improve connectivity between India's technology and financial capitals.

Key Dignitaries at the Inaugural Event

The launch was attended by a galaxy of Union ministers and elected representatives. Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna, Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and H.D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje, BJP MPs Tejasvi Surya, P.C. Mohan, and C.N. Manjunath, as well as BJP Rajya Sabha members Lahar Singh Siroya and Jaggesh were present at the inaugural ceremony.

Vaishnaw cheered and waved to crowds gathered at the railway station. The dignitaries toured the newly introduced train, inspected its onboard facilities, and interacted with passengers.

What the Minister Said

Addressing the media after the flag-off, Vaishnaw described the launch as a fitting tribute on the occasion of Kannada Rajyotsava. 'On the occasion of Kannada Rajyotsava, the Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Bengaluru and Mumbai is being launched. This is a very good train and will connect the technological capital Bengaluru with the financial capital Mumbai. This will be the third Vande Bharat service,' he said.

Vaishnaw highlighted that several new features had been incorporated into the train with passenger convenience and safety in mind. These include special facilities for locomotive pilots, features to ease climbing berths, and dedicated facilities for persons with disabilities.

Railway Investment in Karnataka

Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna thanked Vaishnaw for his support and noted that the initiative aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy of ensuring that the same government that lays foundation stones also completes inaugurations. Somanna highlighted the scale of railway development in the state.

'More than ₹52,000 crore has been spent on railway development in Karnataka over the last five years. Across India, 14,000 railway overbridges have been constructed, including more than 900 in Karnataka. This demonstrates the importance being given to Karnataka and other states,' Somanna said. He added that railways and highways remain priority sectors for the BJP-led government, with particular attention to rail connectivity in North Karnataka and the central and southern regions.

Train Schedule and Coach Composition

The Vande Bharat Sleeper Express will carry a total of 823 passengers across its coaches: 11 AC three-tier coaches accommodating 611 passengers, four AC two-tier coaches with a capacity of 188 passengers, and one first AC coach accommodating 24 passengers.

The train will operate under two service numbers: 27652 (SMVT Bengaluru to CSMT Mumbai) and 27651 (CSMT Mumbai to SMVT Bengaluru). The service will run six days a week — except Mondays for the Bengaluru-to-Mumbai direction and Tuesdays for the return journey. Train No. 27652 departs SMVT Bengaluru at 7.45 pm and arrives at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai, at 11.55 am the following day, covering the distance in approximately 16 hours. The return service, Train No. 27651, departs CSMT Mumbai at 8.10 pm and reaches SMVT Bengaluru at noon the next day.

The service will be operated and maintained by the South Western Railway (SWR) zone. With the Bengaluru-Mumbai corridor now served by a premium overnight option, the launch signals a broader push to modernise inter-city overnight travel on India's busiest business routes.