The new Vande Bharat Sleeper train connecting New Delhi and Varanasi is scheduled to be inaugurated on October 31, with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath set to jointly flag off the service. Railway officials announced the launch alongside two new Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) services, one connecting Varanasi with Prayagraj Rambagh and the other linking Varanasi City with Raja Talab. The new sleeper service is expected to provide overnight connectivity between the national capital and the important religious and cultural city of Varanasi, with air-conditioned berths and several passenger amenities.

For the ceremonial inaugural run, a single train rake will depart from Varanasi at 4:30 pm and is scheduled to reach New Delhi at 1:30 am. Once regular commercial operations begin, the Railway Board-approved timetable will apply. Train number 27421 will depart Varanasi at 8:50 pm and arrive in New Delhi at 5:55 am the following morning. In the opposite direction, train number 27422 will leave New Delhi at 9:40 pm and reach Varanasi at 6:45 am. The service is scheduled to operate six days a week, with planned halts at Prayagraj, Kanpur Central and Chipyana Buzurg.

The train's rake can reach a maximum speed of 160 kmph, although its operational speed will be restricted to 130 kmph. Railway officials said the restriction follows a 2024 Railway Ministry order capping the speed of express and mail trains at that level. The overnight schedule is intended to allow passengers to travel between the two cities while resting during the journey. The planned stops will also provide connectivity for passengers travelling to and from important locations along the route, including Prayagraj and Kanpur.

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The 16-coach train will be fully air-conditioned and have a total passenger capacity of 823. Its composition will include one First AC coach, four AC 2-Tier coaches and 11 AC 3-Tier coaches. Designed as a Make in India product with a substantial share of indigenous components, the train will feature reading lamps at individual berths, three-pin electrical sockets and USB Type-A and Type-C charging points. Other amenities include direct and indirect LED lighting, panoramic windows, dedicated luggage space and onboard Wi-Fi. The First AC coach will also have a hot-water shower, while emergency talk-back units and separate berths for onboard staff are intended to support passenger assistance and service delivery during long journeys.

Safety features include the Kavach train collision-avoidance system, fire detection and alarm equipment in every coach, and fire-barrier doors at the coach end walls. CCTV cameras, emergency alarms and evacuation provisions have also been incorporated into the train's safety arrangements. These features are intended to improve onboard monitoring and provide passengers and railway staff with additional support in emergencies. The train's design combines sleeper accommodation with modern passenger facilities for overnight travel.

The commercial fare circular for the New Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Sleeper has not yet been issued. However, a railway official indicated that ticket prices could be slightly higher than those of other trains operating on the route, reflecting the facilities provided. The country's first Vande Bharat Sleeper pair, operating between Kamakhya and Howrah, was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January. On that route, fares were reported to be 72% higher than those of the Saraighat Express in AC 3-Tier, 58% higher in AC 2-Tier and 16% higher in First AC, providing a comparison for passengers awaiting the fare announcement for the new service.

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