Demand grows for early rollout of Bengaluru – Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper as trainsets await clearance
Railway passenger groups are urging the Indian government to expedite the launch of the Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper service. Although the trainsets are currently at the Bengaluru station, they remain non-operational pending formal handover from BEML and final route confirmation.
Why it matters
The delay highlights the logistical and bureaucratic hurdles in upgrading India's premium rail infrastructure to meet public demand.
The long-awaited launch of the proposed Bengaluru – Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper service has once again come into focus, with railway passenger groups calling on the Union government to expedite the introduction of the premium overnight train.
Adding to the anticipation, two Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets intended for the proposed service are currently stationed at the Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) Bengaluru City Railway Station. The trainsets, built by BEML, have been moved to the coaching yard, where they are undergoing preliminary inspections and other pre-commissioning checks before entering passenger service.
Despite the arrival of the rakes in Bengaluru, railway officials indicated that a few procedural matters are still pending before the trains can be introduced.
Officials from the South Western Railway (SWR) said the trainsets have not yet been formally handed over to the Indian Railways by BEML, and therefore cannot be commissioned for commercial operations at this stage.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in