India's Vande Bharat revolution is gradually moving beyond daytime travel and entering the overnight segment. After introducing the country's first Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Howrah and Kamakhya last year, Indian Railways is now laying the groundwork for a larger network that could reshape long-distance journeys across the country.
The latest development comes from the Mumbai-Bengaluru corridor, which has received approval from Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The route is expected to become one of the next major additions to the premium overnight train network.
While only one sleeper train is operational at present, discussions around several other high-demand routes indicate that Indian Railways is preparing for an ambitious expansion over the next few years.
Mumbai-Bengaluru becomes the newest addition
News 18 noted that the Mumbai-Bengaluru route has long been a strong contender for a premium overnight service because of the enormous passenger traffic between the two cities.
Connecting India's financial capital with its technology hub, the service is expected to significantly reduce travel time while offering modern onboard facilities.
Although schedules, fares and launch dates have not yet been announced, the approval itself marks a major step forward in the expansion plans.
The route could eventually emerge as one of the busiest sleeper services in the country.
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Major metro corridors dominate plans
News 18 noted that beyond Mumbai and Bengaluru, several other routes have repeatedly surfaced in discussions surrounding the future of the Vande Bharat Sleeper network.
The New Delhi-Mumbai corridor remains one of the strongest candidates due to its strategic importance. Similar attention is being given to New Delhi-Ahmedabad and New Delhi-Howrah because of their heavy passenger demand throughout the year.
Long-distance routes connecting New Delhi with Chennai, Secunderabad and Pune are also under consideration.
Meanwhile, Mumbai-Ahmedabad continues to feature prominently despite the ongoing bullet train project between the two cities.
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Kashmir connectivity adds a new dimension
News 18 noted that the completion of rail connectivity to Kashmir has opened another exciting possibility for Indian Railways.
New Delhi-Srinagar is increasingly being discussed as a potential premium overnight corridor that could transform tourism and business travel to the Valley.
The broader strategy reflects Indian Railways' intention to modernise overnight travel instead of limiting Vande Bharat services to shorter daytime journeys.
As more trainsets enter production, passengers can expect a gradual shift towards faster, more comfortable and technology-driven overnight journeys.
