Vande Bharat Express between Nagpur and Pune to be launched on August 10, flagged off virtually by PM Modi.
The train will have a chair car configuration, not sleeper coaches, despite the 887 km stretch.
It aims to reduce travel time and offer a comfortable alternative to road transport, especially ahead of the festive season.
Pune, 6th August 2025: Passengers travelling between Pune and Nagpur finally have something to look forward to. The much-awaited Vande Bharat Express connecting the two major cities in Maharashtra will be launched on August 10. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually flag off the train from Bengaluru, along with two other new Vande Bharat services, Bengaluru-Belagavi and Amritsar-Mata Vaishno Devi Katra.
Despite expectations for a sleeper version, given the long 887-kilometre journey, the new service will have only chair car coaches. Railway officials confirmed that the Vande Bharat on this route will not have sleeping arrangements. The train schedule and ticket prices are yet to be officially announced.
This will be the fourth Vande Bharat service originating from Nagpur, after routes to Bilaspur, Indore, and Secunderabad. The move has been welcomed by people who frequently travel between Pune and Nagpur for work, education, or family visits. With the festive season approaching, including Ganeshotsav, Dussehra, and Diwali, the timing is seen as ideal.
Currently, train journeys between the two cities take anywhere from 14 to 17 hours, and even private buses complete the trip in 12 to 13 hours. This has pushed many commuters to rely on road transport, using buses, cabs, or private vehicles, as rail options are often limited or overbooked.
The new Vande Bharat is expected to cut down travel time significantly with its semi-high-speed service and limited stops. However, the absence of sleeper coaches has raised some concerns about comfort during the long trip.
Satish Yadav, a former member of the Zonal Railway Users’ Consultative Committee, pointed out that the Pune-Nagpur route is among the busiest in Maharashtra, yet rail services haven’t kept pace. He believes the Vande Bharat could finally shift more passengers toward rail travel, provided the experience is worth the price.
The Indian Railways sees this new connection as an opportunity to reclaim its market share in the region, which has long been dominated by road travel.