Vande Bharat Express History and Milestones
The first Vande Bharat Express, built as “Train 18” by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, was flagged off by the Prime Minister on 15 February 2019 between New Delhi and Varanasi. That first route still runs today as train pair 22435/22436. By November 2026 the network had grown to 84 Vande Bharat routes, including three overnight Vande Bharat Sleeper routes, the first of which started in January 2026.
On this page
- Vande Bharat timeline at a glance
- Train 18: how the Vande Bharat Express began
- The first Vande Bharat Express: New Delhi to Varanasi, 2019
- The 75 Vande Bharat trains target
- Vande Bharat 2.0 and the saffron trains
- Growth in Vande Bharat services
- The Vande Bharat Sleeper
- Vande Bharat history FAQs
- Related guides
- Sources
This timeline is built from Ministry of Railways releases published by PIB. Dates that only appear in news reports are marked as reported.
Vande Bharat timeline at a glance
| Date | Milestone | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Late 2018 | “Train 18” built by ICF Chennai in 18 months | Official |
| 27 January 2019 | Train 18 named “Vande Bharat Express” | Reported |
| 15 February 2019 | First Vande Bharat flagged off, New Delhi – Varanasi | Official |
| 17 February 2019 | First commercial run | Reported |
| 15 August 2021 | Target of 75 Vande Bharat trains announced | Official |
| 30 September 2022 | Vande Bharat 2.0 starts, Gandhinagar – Mumbai Central | Official |
| 8 July 2023 | Saffron livery shown on the 28th trainset | Reported |
| 28 July 2023 | 50 Vande Bharat services | Official |
| 12 March 2024 | More than 100 Vande Bharat services | Official |
| 10 August 2025 | 75 Vande Bharat trains (150 services) | Flag-off official, count reported |
| December 2025 | 164 Vande Bharat services | Official |
| 17 / 22 January 2026 | First Vande Bharat Sleeper flagged off / regular service | Official |
| 23 July 2026 | 81 Chair Car pairs (162 services) and 1 Sleeper pair | Official |
| 2–3 November 2026 | Delhi–Varanasi and Mumbai–Bengaluru Sleepers start | Official notices |
Train 18: how the Vande Bharat Express began
The Vande Bharat train started life at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai under the working name Train 18. According to the Ministry of Railways, ICF designed it in-house and built it in 18 months, at “less than half of global prices” (PIB, 14 February 2019). The cost of the first trainset was reported at about ₹97 crore at the time, though one magazine gave ₹98 crore; we found no official figure.
Train 18 was renamed Vande Bharat Express in January 2019. News reports date the announcement to 27 January 2019, when the then Railway Minister said the name came from public suggestions. We have not found a PIB release for the naming.
The first Vande Bharat Express: New Delhi to Varanasi, 2019
The first Vande Bharat was flagged off on 15 February 2019 by the Prime Minister from New Delhi, on the route New Delhi – Kanpur – Allahabad (now Prayagraj) – Varanasi, with a scheduled journey of 8 hours. At launch it was to run on all days except Monday and Thursday. Its first commercial run was reported on 17 February 2019.
The first-generation train was a 16-coach set with 2 Executive Chair Car coaches and 1,128 seats, rated at 160 km/h, with features such as regenerative braking, on-board hotspot content and a personal reading light for every seat.
That route still runs. Today, 22436 leaves New Delhi (NDLS) at 06:00 and reaches Varanasi Jn (BSB) at 14:00, stopping only at Kanpur Central (CNB) and Prayagraj Jn (PRYJ), daily except Thursday. A second Chair Car pair, 22415/22416, and the overnight Sleeper 27421/27422 now serve the same cities. See the Delhi–Varanasi Vande Bharat guide.
The first two trainsets, on New Delhi – Varanasi and New Delhi – Katra, are known as version 1.
The 75 Vande Bharat trains target
In his Independence Day speech on 15 August 2021, the Prime Minister announced that “during these 75 weeks of the Amrit Mahotsav of Independence, 75 Vande Bharat trains will connect every corner of the country” (PIB). The 75 weeks ran from 12 March 2021 to 15 August 2023.
The target was reached later than planned. According to news reports, the count of 75 Vande Bharat trains (150 services) was reached on 10 August 2025, when three trains were flagged off from Bengaluru: Bengaluru – Belagavi, Amritsar – Katra and Nagpur (Ajni) – Pune (PIB, flag-off). That is why many people still search for a “75 Vande Bharat route list”: today’s route list has 84 routes.
Vande Bharat 2.0 and the saffron trains
The second-generation Vande Bharat 2.0 was first flagged off on 30 September 2022 between Gandhinagar and Mumbai Central (PIB). It is lighter, at 392 tonnes against 430 tonnes for the first version, has the Kavach train protection system, and is designed for 180 km/h. The Ministry gives its acceleration as 0 to 100 km/h in about 52 seconds. By 23 March 2023, eight Vande Bharat 2.0 trainsets were in service. Today’s Mumbai Central – Gandhinagar Capital pair is 20901/20902; see Mumbai–Ahmedabad Vande Bharat.
In July 2023, the Railway Minister was reported inspecting the 28th trainset in a new saffron colour, described as inspired by the national flag and as a trial. We have not found a PIB release for it, and reports differ on the exact colour combination. Newer trains run in saffron-orange and grey; the early ones are white and blue.
The Ministry of Railways says Vande Bharat 3.0 is now in operation and that version 4.0 is expected within 18 months from late 2025, but it gives no launch date or first train for version 3.0.
Growth in Vande Bharat services
| Date | Vande Bharat services | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 28 July 2023 | 50 | PIB |
| After 24 September 2023 | 68 | PIB |
| 31 January 2024 | 82 | PIB |
| 12 March 2024 | Over 100 | PIB |
| December 2025 | 164 | PIB |
| 23 July 2026 | 162 Chair Car + 2 Sleeper | PIB |
A service is one train in one direction, so 50 services is 25 pairs. Two official figures do not quite add up. In March 2024, PIB gave “104 services (51 pairs)”, but 51 pairs make 102 services, and a later PIB note says 102. And the July 2026 count of 162 Chair Car services is lower than the December 2025 figure of 164; the reason is not given.
According to the December 2025 backgrounder, Vande Bharat trains by then served 274 districts and had carried more than 7.5 crore passengers, with occupancy of 102.01% in 2024–25. The stated targets are 800 trainsets by 2030 and 4,500 by 2047.
The Vande Bharat Sleeper
A Vande Bharat Sleeper prototype was unveiled at BEML in Bengaluru on 1 September 2024. The first Vande Bharat Sleeper, Howrah – Kamakhya (27575/27576), was flagged off by the Prime Minister at Malda Town on 17 January 2026 and has run as a regular service since 22 January 2026 (PIB). It runs overnight between Howrah (HWH) and Kamakhya (KYQ), 966 km, with a stop at New Jalpaiguri (NJP).
Two more Sleeper routes started in November 2026:
- New Delhi – Varanasi (27421/27422) from 2 November 2026; a flag-off was announced for 31 October (PIB).
- Mumbai CSMT – SMVT Bengaluru (27651/27652) from 2–3 November 2026, announced by South Western Railway.
The Sleeper has 16 coaches (11 in 3A, 4 in 2A, 1 in 1A) and its own rules: confirmed tickets only under the Railway Board circular, no RAC, food included and a per-km fare. See the Vande Bharat Sleeper guide.
Vande Bharat history FAQs
Which was the first Vande Bharat Express? New Delhi to Varanasi, flagged off on 15 February 2019. It now runs as 22435/22436.
What is Train 18? The working name of the first Vande Bharat trainset, built by ICF Chennai in 18 months. It was renamed Vande Bharat Express in January 2019.
When was Vande Bharat launched? The first Vande Bharat Express was flagged off on 15 February 2019; its first commercial run was reported on 17 February 2019.
Who built the Vande Bharat train? The Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, designed and built the first Vande Bharat in-house.
Which was the first Vande Bharat Sleeper train? Howrah – Kamakhya (27575/27576), flagged off at Malda Town on 17 January 2026 and in regular service from 22 January 2026.
When was the Vande Bharat Sleeper launched? January 2026. The second and third Sleeper routes, Delhi–Varanasi and Mumbai–Bengaluru, started in November 2026.
What was the 75 Vande Bharat trains target? Announced on 15 August 2021 for the 75 weeks to 15 August 2023. It was reached, by news reports, on 10 August 2025.
How many Vande Bharat trains are there now? 84 routes as of November 2026: 81 Chair Car and 3 Sleeper.
Related guides
Sources
PIB: 14 Feb 2019 · 15 Aug 2021 · 27 Sep 2022 · 23 Mar 2023 · 2 Aug 2023 · 10 Oct 2023 · 11 Mar 2024 · 12 Mar 2024 · PIB note on 102 services · 10 Aug 2025 · Dec 2025 backgrounder · 17 Jan 2026 · 23 Jul 2026 · 30 Oct 2026. Reported: naming (The Week), first commercial run (Business Standard), cost (DT Next), saffron livery (The Week), 75-train count (Deccan Herald). Report a correction.
Keep reading about Vande Bharat
Delhi – Varanasi Vande Bharat Express
Two Vande Bharat Chair Car trains run between New Delhi and Varanasi: 22435/22436 and 22415/22416. Compare timings both ways, stops at Kanpur and Prayagraj, running days and IRCTC fares.
Vande Bharat Train Facilities and Features
Facilities on Vande Bharat Express trains from official Ministry of Railways lists: charging point at every seat, bio-vacuum toilets, automatic doors, Kavach, CCTV, rotating EC seats, Wi-Fi content, and Sleeper features like the 1A shower.
Vande Bharat Speed: Top Speed, Average Speed and Fastest Routes
Vande Bharat top speed is 160 km/h in service (180 km/h design). See the real average speed of 52 Vande Bharat trains, the 10 fastest routes, the longest routes and why average speed is lower.
Vande Bharat Express Route List
All 81 Vande Bharat Chair Car routes and 3 Sleeper routes in India, with train numbers and station codes, grouped by state. Updated November 2026.