Pune, 18th May 2026: The much-awaited Mumbai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Sleeper train is now almost certain to operate via the Pune-Solapur route. Senior Railway Board officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, have indicated that the final decision has largely been made, and the train is expected to start operations within the next one to one-and-a-half months.
Over the past few weeks, there had been discussions within railway circles about operating the train through the Miraj-Hubballi route. However, passengers from Pune and Solapur had expressed concern over the possibility of losing direct connectivity on the premium service.
Railway officials believe the Miraj route could have created operational challenges for the Vande Bharat Sleeper and may not have generated the expected passenger demand. As a result, the Railways has reportedly decided to proceed with the Pune-Solapur corridor for the service.
The Vande Bharat Sleeper will follow stricter ticketing norms compared to regular long-distance trains. Passengers travelling on RAC or waiting-list tickets will not be allowed to board the train. Entry will be permitted only for passengers holding confirmed tickets.
In another important rule, passengers will have to pay a minimum fare equivalent to 400 kilometres, even if their actual journey distance is shorter.
The fare structure for the Vande Bharat Sleeper has also been finalised on a per-kilometre basis, with GST charged separately. For a journey of 1,000 kilometres, the estimated base fares are ₹2,400 for Third AC, ₹3,100 for Second AC, and ₹3,800 for First AC.
In comparison, Rajdhani Express fares for the same distance are currently lower, ranging between ₹2,100 and ₹2,140 for Third AC, ₹2,850 and ₹2,910 for Second AC, and ₹3,530 to ₹3,600 for First AC. This makes the Vande Bharat Sleeper roughly 20 percent more expensive than Rajdhani services.
The new train is expected to offer faster travel, upgraded onboard facilities, and a premium overnight journey experience between Mumbai and Bengaluru through Maharashtra’s key rail corridor.
