Vande Bharat Updates
The newest Vande Bharat trains are two overnight Vande Bharat Sleeper services that started in November 2026: New Delhi–Varanasi (27421/27422) and Mumbai CSMT–SMVT Bengaluru (27651/27652). This page records every new Vande Bharat Express service and every rule change that affects Vande Bharat passengers, newest first, with the date it took effect, its status and a link to the official source.
On this page
We add an entry only when there is an official announcement or a dated, reliable report, and we label each one: regular service, rule in force, reported or announced. When a new Vande Bharat train gets a confirmed timetable, it moves into the route list and gets its own guide.
November 2026
Delhi–Varanasi Vande Bharat Sleeper starts (2 November 2026). Train 27422 New Delhi–Varanasi and 27421 Varanasi–New Delhi run overnight, six days a week, in 3A, 2A and 1A. 27422 leaves New Delhi (NDLS) at 21:40 and reaches Varanasi Jn (BSB) at 07:10; it does not run on Saturday. 27421 leaves Varanasi at 20:50, reaches New Delhi at 06:10 and does not run on Friday. On IRCTC on 11 November 2026, New Delhi to Varanasi cost ₹1,915 in 3A, ₹2,470 in 2A and ₹3,030 in 1A, with food included. Status: regular service. Route guide · Northern Railway notice
Mumbai–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Sleeper starts (2–3 November 2026). Train 27651 Mumbai CSMT–SMVT Bengaluru runs from 2 November and 27652 in the other direction from 3 November, six days a week. 27651 leaves Mumbai CSMT at 20:10 and reaches SMVT Bengaluru (SMVB) at 12:00 the next day, covering 1,114 km; it does not run on Tuesday. 27652 does not run on Monday. South Western Railway announced the service in a release dated 30 October 2026. Status: regular service. Route guide · South Western Railway release
With these two trains, India has three Vande Bharat Sleeper routes and 84 Vande Bharat Express routes in all.
October 2026
Konkan Railway monsoon timetable ends (20 October 2026). The monsoon timetable on the Konkan Railway ran from 15 June to 20 October 2026. The Mumbai–Goa Vande Bharat Express (22229/22230) has since returned to its regular timetable: 22229 leaves Mumbai CSMT at 05:25 and reaches Madgaon (MAO) at 13:10, every day except Friday. Status: regular timetable. Route guide · Konkan Railway
September 2026
Rotating EC seats to stay for now (reported 3 September 2026). Railway engineers were reported to be considering removing the rotating seats in Vande Bharat Executive Chair Car (EC) coaches, but nothing had been approved. EC seats on current Vande Bharat trains still rotate. Status: reported proposal, no change. Business Today
July 2026
Ministry of Railways counts 81 Chair Car pairs (23 July 2026). The Ministry of Railways reported 162 Vande Bharat Chair Car services (81 pairs) and one Sleeper pair. This is the baseline for our national route list. Status: official count. Route list · PIB
April 2026
Boarding station change allowed until 30 minutes before departure (1 April 2026). Following the Railway Minister’s statement of 24 March 2026, passengers can change the boarding station once, up to the final chart about 30 minutes before departure, instead of 24 hours before. This applies to Vande Bharat trains too. Status: rule in force. Ticket change guide
March 2026
New refund windows and chart timing (24 March 2026). The Ministry of Railways announced cancellation bands of 72, 24 and 8 hours before departure, replacing 48, 12 and 4 hours, and confirmed that charts are made 9 to 18 hours before departure. On a Vande Bharat Chair Car ticket, cancelling more than 72 hours ahead now costs a flat ₹180 in CC or ₹240 in EC. Status: announced by the Ministry; IRCTC’s published rules may still show the old bands. Refund rules
Vande Bharat Sleeper fare rates published (11 March 2026). The Ministry of Railways set Sleeper fares at ₹2.40 per km in 3A before GST, with rates up to ₹3.80 per km across the classes, food included and no RAC. Status: official. Sleeper fare calculator · PIB
February 2026
No dynamic fare and no concession on Vande Bharat (11 February 2026). In a Lok Sabha reply, the Ministry of Railways said there is no plan to bring dynamic fares to Vande Bharat Chair Car or Sleeper trains, that there is no fare concession on Vande Bharat trains, and that four chair car seats on each train service are earmarked for passengers with disabilities. Status: official. Concessions and quotas · PIB
Emergency quota on the Vande Bharat Sleeper (around 9 February 2026). News reports said an emergency quota was added to the Vande Bharat Sleeper. We have not seen the official order. Status: reported.
Tamil Nadu route list (4 February 2026). A Lok Sabha answer listed eight Vande Bharat Chair Car pairs that start or end in Tamil Nadu. Status: official. Tamil Nadu routes
January 2026
First Vande Bharat Sleeper starts: Howrah–Kamakhya (22 January 2026). Train 27575/27576 runs overnight between Howrah (HWH) and Kamakhya (KYQ), 966 km, with a stop at New Jalpaiguri (NJP). Status: regular service. Sleeper guide · Ministry announcement (PIB)
Stricter Vande Bharat Sleeper refund rules (16–19 January 2026). Gazette notification G.S.R. 41(E) of 16 January 2026, applied by Railway Board Commercial Circular 08/2026 of 19 January, set Sleeper cancellation charges at 25% of the fare more than 72 hours before departure, 50% until 8 hours before, and no refund after that. From 16 January 2026, a Sleeper counter ticket’s date can be changed only at least 72 hours before departure. Status: rule in force. Refund rules
Vande Bharat Sleeper booking rules (9 January 2026). Railway Board Commercial Circular 03/2026 set the Sleeper’s rules: confirmed tickets only, no RAC or waiting list (though IRCTC showed waiting-list numbers on 27422 in November 2026), a 400 km minimum chargeable distance, only Ladies, Divyangjan, Senior Citizen and Duty Pass quotas, no Tatkal, digital payment only, and automatic lower berths for men aged 60+ and women aged 45+. Status: rule in force. Copy of circular
December 2025 and earlier
- 26 December 2025: AC fares, including Vande Bharat, rose by 2 paise per km for tickets booked from this date. PIB
- 30 December 2025: new chart timing: by 20:00 the evening before for trains leaving between 05:01 and 14:00, and 10 hours before departure for the rest.
- 1 July 2025: AC fares, including Vande Bharat, rose by 2 paise per km. PIB
- February 2025: passengers who chose No Food can buy ready-to-eat meals on board, until 9 pm (press reports). Food guide
Announced, not yet running
- Second Bengaluru–Mumbai Sleeper via Hubballi: announced, with no train number or start date yet.
- Bengaluru–Goa: under watch; no regular timetable confirmed.
We add a route here only after an official announcement, and move it to the route list once a timetable is confirmed. Temporary and festival specials, with train numbers starting with 0, are not listed as regular Vande Bharat trains.
Vande Bharat updates FAQs
What is the newest Vande Bharat Express train? The newest Vande Bharat trains are the Delhi–Varanasi Sleeper (27421/27422) and the Mumbai–Bengaluru Sleeper (27651/27652), both started in November 2026.
When will the next Vande Bharat Express start? A second Bengaluru–Mumbai Sleeper via Hubballi has been announced, but without a train number or start date. We list it here when it is confirmed.
How many Vande Bharat trains are there now? 84 routes: 81 Chair Car and 3 Sleeper, as of November 2026.
Sources
Zonal railway notices, Ministry of Railways releases on PIB, Railway Board circulars and the Gazette, linked in each entry. Fares from IRCTC, 11 November 2026. Report a correction.
Keep reading about Vande Bharat
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.
How to Book a Vande Bharat Ticket on IRCTC
How to book a Vande Bharat Express train ticket on IRCTC: when booking opens (60 days, 08:00 IST), choosing CC or EC, meals, Tatkal at 10:00, Sleeper booking rules and tips for a confirmed seat.