The Railway Ministry has taken a significant step towards introducing Vande Bharat Sleeper trains across the country, prioritizing the Telugu states in the first phase of allocations. Crucially, a proposal for a Vande Bharat Sleeper train from Andhra Pradesh to the Ayodhya/Varanasi route has received preliminary approval, signaling a major boost in connectivity for devotees and travelers.
Expanding Vande Bharat Services
The decision to introduce sleeper services follows the successful operation of existing Vande Bharat Express trains in the region, which currently run on popular routes such as Visakhapatnam-Secunderabad, Kacheguda-Yeshwantpur, Vijayawada-Chennai, and Secunderabad-Tirupati. Given the high occupancy rates and the need for easier long-distance travel, multiple proposals for sleeper trains from both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were submitted to the Railway Board.
Night Service and Route Planning
The railway department has agreed to launch the Vande Bharat Sleeper service from Andhra Pradesh to the Ayodhya/Varanasi route, with the final scheduling and route planning in its last stages. This new service is expected to be a major boon for Telugu pilgrims traveling to these spiritual destinations. Furthermore, a nighttime sleeper service is also being planned on the Vijayawada → Warangal → Ayodhya route, which is likely to be announced in the second phase. Officials anticipate that the first phase of these sleeper trains may be operational by the Sankranti festival.
