Three new Vande Bharat Express chair car services are scheduled to launch this week, with one highly anticipated route being the Nagpur-Pune Vande Bharat Express. The launch is slated for August 10, 2025, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagging off the inaugural run. Simultaneously, Vande Bharat trains on the Bengaluru–Belagavi and Amritsar–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra routes will also be inaugurated.
The Nagpur-Pune Vande Bharat Express is expected to run three times a week, departing from Ajni Railway Station in Nagpur and arriving at Hadapsar Station in Pune. The train aims to complete the journey, spanning over 850 km, in under 12 hours, significantly reducing travel time compared to existing trains that take 16 to 18 hours. While the Pune Railway Station is currently congested, Hadapsar has been designated as the temporary terminus. The final schedule, including stoppages and train numbers, will be available on the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) two days before the launch.
This new service is primarily aimed at benefiting working professionals and others who frequently travel between Vidarbha and Pune, especially those employed in Pune's IT and industrial sectors. While there were expectations for a sleeper version, the train will initially operate with only chair car coaches. The sleeper coaches are planned for the next year. Railway officials anticipate strong demand despite the absence of sleeping arrangements, citing the reduced travel time and enhanced comfort as key attractions.
Looking ahead, the Indian Railways is actively developing a Vande Bharat sleeper train, designed to replace the Rajdhani Express for long-distance travel. The sleeper version will feature several upgrades, including comfortable sleeping berths, and modern onboard amenities. The Vande Bharat Sleeper train is expected to consist of 16 coaches, including AC First Class, AC 2-Tier, and AC 3-Tier. The train is designed to operate at speeds up to 180 km/h.
The first prototype of the Vande Bharat sleeper train was launched in September 2024 and is expected to begin operations after 3 months. As of April 2024, one Vande Bharat sleeper prototype is under construction at ICF-BEML facility in Bengaluru. Trial runs for the trainsets have been scheduled for May 2024. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that the Vande Bharat Sleeper train is expected to launch in September 2025. The routes for the Vande Bharat sleeper train are still under development.
