A major development has emerged for rail passengers traveling between Eastern Uttar Pradesh and the national capital. Official clearance has been granted for the country's second Vande Bharat sleeper train, which will operate directly between Varanasi and New Delhi. Designed for comfortable overnight long-distance travel, this high-speed service will also include scheduled stops at Prayagraj and Kanpur Central. The introduction of this service offers a brand-new, modern transit option for daily travelers, professionals, and visitors commuting across Purvanchal, central Uttar Pradesh, and the industrial corridor of Kanpur.
Proposed Timetable and Total Travel Duration
Under the draft schedule formulated for the route, the Vande Bharat sleeper train will depart from Varanasi at 8:40 PM. Continuing on its journey, it is scheduled to pull into Prayagraj at 10:05 PM before reaching Kanpur Central around 11:50 PM. Traversing the remaining stretch through the night, the train is expected to arrive at New Delhi station at approximately 4:50 AM the following morning. Through this proposed arrangement, the entire journey from Varanasi to New Delhi is projected to clock in at around 8 hours and 10 minutes.
Return Timings from the National Capital
For the return trip originating from the capital, the proposed schedule has the train setting off from New Delhi at 11:25 PM. It is expected to arrive at Kanpur Central in the early hours around 3:30 AM, followed by a scheduled arrival in Prayagraj at 5:38 AM. Continuing its early morning run, the train will reach Varanasi around 7:35 AM. However, railway authorities have not yet officially published these timings. The formal notification regarding the final schedule and the maiden operational date will be declared following formal clearance from the Prime Minister's Office.
Boost for Industrial Kanpur and Central Uttar Pradesh
Designating a halt at Kanpur Central provides extensive advantages to passengers commuting along the busy Delhi-Varanasi trunk route. Commuters from Kanpur as well as neighboring districts across central Uttar Pradesh stand to gain significantly from faster, modern, and fatigue-free connectivity. Member of Parliament Ramesh Awasthi described the scheduled stop at Kanpur as an essential milestone for the city. According to him, the rapid transit connection will provide a direct boost to commerce, regional tourism, and overall economic activity.
16-Coach Modern Sleeper Rake with 823 Berths
The proposed trainset will be configured with a 16-coach composition offering an aggregate capacity of approximately 823 passenger berths. The coach layout includes 11 coaches dedicated to third AC, 4 coaches for second AC, and a single first AC coach. During the initial rollout, the operational speed of the train will be capped at a maximum of 130 km/h. Long-term operating plans aim to escalate this speed threshold to 160 km/h as track conditions permit. The rolling stock rake is reportedly fully readied to undergo trial procedures.
