Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains
Three Vande Bharat Sleeper trains run in India as of November 2026: Howrah–Kamakhya, Mumbai–Bengaluru and New Delhi–Varanasi. They run overnight with berths in 3A, 2A and 1A, and the fare includes food. The first, Howrah–Kamakhya, started in January 2026. The other two started in November 2026. All other Vande Bharat trains are daytime Chair Car services with seats.
- 27576Kamakhya KYQ → Howrah Jn HWH18:15 – 08:15 +1
- 27575Howrah Jn HWH → Kamakhya KYQ18:20 – 08:20 +1
- 27652SMVT Bengaluru SMVB → Mumbai CSMT CSMT19:45 – 11:55 +1
- 27651Mumbai CSMT CSMT → SMVT Bengaluru SMVB20:10 – 12:00 +1
- 27421Varanasi Jn BSB → New Delhi NDLS20:50 – 06:10 +1
- 27422New Delhi NDLS → Varanasi Jn BSB21:40 – 07:10 +1
Scheduled times, checked 11 November 2026. Live status on NTES.
On this page
- All Vande Bharat Sleeper routes
- How the Sleeper is different from Vande Bharat Chair Car
- Vande Bharat Sleeper fare
- The three Vande Bharat Sleeper trains, one by one
- Booking rules for Vande Bharat Sleeper trains
- Cancellation and refund on the Vande Bharat Sleeper
- Vande Bharat Sleeper or Vande Bharat Express Chair Car?
- Vande Bharat Sleeper FAQs
- Sources
Timetables last checked 11 November 2026.
All Vande Bharat Sleeper routes
| Route | Train | Departs | Arrives | Journey | Not on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varanasi Jn → New Delhi | 27421 | BSB 20:50 | NDLS 06:10 (+1 day) | 9 h 20 min | Fri |
| New Delhi → Varanasi Jn | 27422 | NDLS 21:40 | BSB 07:10 (+1 day) | 9 h 30 min | Sat |
| Howrah Jn → Kamakhya | 27575 | HWH 18:20 | KYQ 08:20 (+1 day) | 14 h | Thu |
| Kamakhya → Howrah Jn | 27576 | KYQ 18:15 | HWH 08:15 (+1 day) | 14 h | Wed |
| Mumbai CSMT → SMVT Bengaluru | 27651 | CSMT 20:10 | SMVB 12:00 (+1 day) | 15 h 50 min | Tue |
| SMVT Bengaluru → Mumbai CSMT | 27652 | SMVB 19:45 | CSMT 11:55 (+1 day) | 16 h 10 min | Mon |
How the Sleeper is different from Vande Bharat Chair Car
| Vande Bharat Sleeper | Vande Bharat Chair Car | |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | Overnight | Daytime |
| Classes | 3A, 2A, 1A berths | CC and EC seats |
| Food | Included in the fare | Optional, chosen at booking |
| Fare | Per km, all-inclusive | Base fare plus separate charges |
| Tickets | Confirmed only under the rules, no RAC (IRCTC showed waiting lists on 27422 in Nov 2026) | Confirmed or waiting list; no RAC on seats |
| Tatkal | No Tatkal | Tatkal in CC and EC |
| Minimum fare | Charged for at least 400 km | — |
| Cancellation | 25% deducted >72 h before, 50% until 8 h, then no refund | Flat ₹180/₹240 >72 h before, then 25%, 50%, no refund |
| Train numbers | Start with 27 | Mostly start with 20 or 22 |
Sleeper and Chair Car trains on the same corridor have different train numbers and timings. For example, New Delhi–Varanasi has the Chair Car 22435/22436 and 22415/22416 by day and the Sleeper 27421/27422 overnight.
Vande Bharat Sleeper fare
The Ministry of Railways sets Sleeper fares per kilometre: ₹2.40 per km in 3A before GST, and up to ₹3.80 per km across the classes. Food is included, and there are no RAC tickets. Every ticket is charged for at least 400 km. Source: PIB, March 2026
Example, New Delhi to Varanasi (27422, 758 km), IRCTC, 11 November 2026:
| Class | Fare |
|---|---|
| 3A | ₹1,915 |
| 2A | ₹2,470 |
| 1A | ₹3,030 |
See Vande Bharat ticket price for the full breakdown.
Full-route fare estimates for all three Vande Bharat Sleeper trains, from the per-km rate (3A ₹2.40, 2A about ₹3.10, 1A ₹3.80) plus 5% GST. For New Delhi–Varanasi these come within ₹6 of IRCTC’s actual fares; for Howrah–New Jalpaiguri they are within ₹5 of the fares published at the January 2026 launch (₹1,425 in 3A, ₹1,840 in 2A and ₹2,255 in 1A).
| Route | Distance | 3A | 2A | 1A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Delhi – Varanasi Jn | 758 km | about ₹1,910 | about ₹2,467 | about ₹3,024 |
| Howrah Jn – Kamakhya | 966 km | about ₹2,434 | about ₹3,144 | about ₹3,854 |
| Mumbai CSMT – SMVT Bengaluru | 1,114 km | about ₹2,807 | about ₹3,626 | about ₹4,445 |
Because of the 400 km minimum, no Vande Bharat Sleeper ticket costs less than about ₹1,008 in 3A. Work out any pair of stops with the Vande Bharat Sleeper fare calculator. Daytime Vande Bharat trains price CC and EC differently, with separate reservation, superfast and meal charges.
The three Vande Bharat Sleeper trains, one by one
Howrah – Kamakhya (27575/27576), the first Vande Bharat Sleeper. Running regularly since 22 January 2026, it covers 966 km in 14 hours in each direction. 27575 leaves Howrah Jn (HWH) at 18:20 and reaches Kamakhya (KYQ), the Guwahati-area terminal, at 08:20; it does not run on Thursday. 27576 leaves Kamakhya at 18:15 and reaches Howrah at 08:15, and does not run on Wednesday. With 13 intermediate stops, including Bandel, Malda Town, New Jalpaiguri (NJP), New Cooch Behar, New Bongaigaon and Rangiya, it is the Vande Bharat train with the most stops among the three Sleepers. Towards Kamakhya it reaches New Jalpaiguri at 01:40, which makes it an overnight option to the Siliguri and Darjeeling railhead alongside the daytime Vande Bharat Express 22301.
Mumbai CSMT – SMVT Bengaluru (27651/27652), the longest. It is the only Vande Bharat train between Mumbai and Bengaluru. Started on 2–3 November 2026, it covers 1,114 km in 15 h 50 min towards Bengaluru and 16 h 10 min towards Mumbai. 27651 leaves Mumbai CSMT at 20:10 and reaches SMVT Bengaluru (SMVB) at 12:00 the next day, and does not run on Tuesday. 27652 leaves at 19:45, reaches Mumbai CSMT at 11:55 and does not run on Monday. Its eight stops include Kalyan, Pune, Solapur, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Guntakal and Anantapur. Full guide: Mumbai – Bengaluru Vande Bharat Sleeper.
New Delhi – Varanasi (27421/27422), the fastest. Started on 2 November 2026, it takes 9 h 30 min towards Varanasi and 9 h 20 min towards Delhi for 758 km, averaging about 80 km/h. 27422 leaves New Delhi (NDLS) at 21:40 and reaches Varanasi Jn (BSB) at 07:10, and does not run on Saturday. 27421 leaves Varanasi at 20:50, reaches New Delhi at 06:10 and does not run on Friday. It stops at Ghaziabad, Aligarh, Kanpur Central and Prayagraj, and runs alongside two daytime Vande Bharat Express pairs on the same route. Full guide: Delhi – Varanasi Vande Bharat Sleeper.
Booking rules for Vande Bharat Sleeper trains
Railway Board Commercial Circular 03/2026 set the rules that apply to every Vande Bharat Sleeper:
- Confirmed tickets under the rules. No RAC and no partly confirmed tickets on the Sleeper. On 11 November 2026, though, IRCTC showed waiting-list numbers on the New Delhi–Varanasi Sleeper 27422, so check the status IRCTC shows before you pay. If 3A is full, check 2A and 1A, or another date.
- No Tatkal. Unlike the Vande Bharat Express Chair Car, which has Tatkal in CC and EC, the Sleeper never had a Tatkal quota. Book when general booking opens, 60 days ahead at 08:00 IST: use the booking date calculator.
- Quotas: Ladies, Divyangjan, Senior Citizen and Duty Pass only. An emergency quota was also reported in February 2026.
- Lower berths automatically, where available, for men aged 60 and over and women aged 45 and over.
- No concession fares and digital payment only.
- Minimum 400 km charged on every ticket.
Cancellation and refund on the Vande Bharat Sleeper
The Sleeper has its own refund rule (Gazette G.S.R. 41(E), January 2026), stricter than the Chair Car:
| You cancel | Charge | Example: 3A New Delhi–Varanasi, ₹1,915 |
|---|---|---|
| More than 72 hours before departure | 25% of the fare | about ₹1,436 back |
| 72 to 8 hours before | 50% of the fare | about ₹958 back |
| Less than 8 hours before | No refund | Nothing back |
There is no flat-charge band as on the Vande Bharat Express Chair Car, so even an early cancellation costs a quarter of the fare. Plan your dates before you book, and use the cancellation deadline tool to see the exact clock times. Read the full Vande Bharat refund rules.
Vande Bharat Sleeper or Vande Bharat Express Chair Car?
On New Delhi–Varanasi you can choose between three Vande Bharat trains: two daytime Chair Car pairs and the overnight Sleeper. The Sleeper’s 3A berth costs ₹1,915, only ₹80 more than a CC seat on the daytime 22436 with a meal (₹1,835), and you travel overnight instead of losing a day. The Chair Car is better for a daytime trip, for short distances under the Sleeper’s 400 km minimum, or when you need Tatkal or a waiting-list ticket.
Vande Bharat Sleeper FAQs
How many Vande Bharat Sleeper trains are there? Three routes as of November 2026: Howrah–Kamakhya (27575/27576), Mumbai CSMT–SMVT Bengaluru (27651/27652) and Varanasi–New Delhi (27421/27422).
Which Vande Bharat trains have sleeper berths? Only the three Vande Bharat Sleeper trains: 27575/27576, 27651/27652 and 27421/27422. All 81 other Vande Bharat trains are Chair Car trains with CC and EC seats.
Which classes does the Vande Bharat Sleeper have? 3A (AC 3-tier), 2A (AC 2-tier) and 1A (First AC).
Is food included in the Vande Bharat Sleeper fare? Yes. According to the Ministry of Railways, food is included in the fare. Source: PIB, January 2026
Is there RAC or waiting list on the Vande Bharat Sleeper? There is no RAC and no Tatkal. Railway Board Commercial Circular 03/2026 says the Sleeper sells confirmed tickets only, but IRCTC showed waiting-list numbers on 27422 in November 2026, so check IRCTC for your date. Book early.
What is the cancellation charge on the Vande Bharat Sleeper? 25% of the fare if you cancel more than 72 hours before departure, 50% until 8 hours before, and no refund after that. See the Vande Bharat refund rules.
Which was the first Vande Bharat Sleeper? Howrah–Kamakhya (27575/27576), running regularly since 22 January 2026.
Does the Vande Bharat Sleeper stop at New Jalpaiguri? Yes. The Howrah–Kamakhya Sleeper 27575 reaches New Jalpaiguri (NJP) at 01:40, and 27576 calls there at 23:30. Fares published at the January 2026 launch for Howrah to New Jalpaiguri were ₹1,425 in 3A, ₹1,840 in 2A and ₹2,255 in 1A.
What is the minimum Vande Bharat Sleeper fare? Every Vande Bharat Sleeper ticket is charged for at least 400 km, so a 3A berth costs at least about ₹1,008 including GST, even for a short hop.
How do I book the Vande Bharat Sleeper? On IRCTC like any reserved Vande Bharat Express ticket: search your stations and date, choose 3A, 2A or 1A on the Sleeper, add passengers and pay digitally. Check your PNR on IRCTC and the train’s running status on NTES on the day.
Sources
Vande Bharat Sleeper fares and rules (PIB, March 2026) · Ministry route list (PIB, July 2026) · Bengaluru–Mumbai notice (SWR) · Delhi–Varanasi notice (NR). Timetables: erail, ConfirmTkt and RailYatri, 11 November 2026. Fares: IRCTC, 11 November 2026. Report a correction.
Keep reading about Vande Bharat
Delhi – Varanasi Vande Bharat Sleeper (27421 / 27422)
New Delhi to Varanasi Vande Bharat Sleeper 27422 and Varanasi to Delhi 27421: overnight timings, stops, running days and IRCTC fares in 3A, 2A and 1A.
Mumbai – Bengaluru Vande Bharat Sleeper (27651 / 27652)
Mumbai CSMT to SMVT Bengaluru Vande Bharat Sleeper 27651 and Bengaluru to Mumbai 27652: overnight timings, all stops, running days, 3A/2A/1A classes and fare rules.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Fare Calculator
3A, 2A and 1A price between any two stops.
Vande Bharat Refund and Cancellation Rules
Vande Bharat cancellation charges explained: flat ₹180 (CC) and ₹240 (EC), the 72, 24 and 8-hour refund bands, the stricter Vande Bharat Sleeper rules, waitlisted and Tatkal tickets, and real refund examples.