The Vande Bharat Express, also known as Train 18, is India’s pride in semi-high-speed rail travel. Launched in 2019, these trains are designed for speed, comfort, and modern amenities, making them a popular choice for travelers across India. With over 150 Vande Bharat services running as of August 2025, they connect major cities with faster travel times and world-class features like Wi-Fi, automatic doors, and reclining seats. This article provides a clear and detailed guide to the routes, timings, and stops of Vande Bharat Express trains, based on the latest available information.
What is Vande Bharat Express?
Vande Bharat Express trains are semi-high-speed trains built under the “Make in India” initiative. Manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, they can reach speeds of up to 160 km/h on operational routes, with trial speeds hitting 183 km/h. These trains offer two classes: AC Chair Car (CC) and Executive Class (EC), providing comfortable seating, onboard catering, and modern facilities like bio-vacuum toilets and GPS-based passenger information systems.
As of August 2025, there are 75 Vande Bharat routes (150 services, including up and down journeys) with three coach configurations: 8-coach Mini Vande Bharat for shorter routes, 16-coach regular trains, and 20-coach extended trains for high-demand routes. The first sleeper Vande Bharat trains, designed for overnight journeys, were launched in September 2025 with AC First Class, AC 2-Tier, and AC 3-Tier coaches.
Key Features of Vande Bharat Express
- Speed: Operational speed up to 160 km/h, reducing travel time by up to 15% compared to other trains.
- Comfort: Reclining and rotating seats, spacious interiors, and airplane-like ambiance.
- Amenities: Wi-Fi, CCTV, automatic doors, onboard catering, and bio-vacuum toilets.
- Safety: Equipped with the KAVACH security system and fire extinguishers.
- Classes: AC Chair Car (78 seats per coach) and Executive Class (52 seats per coach with 2×2 seating).
Complete List of Vande Bharat Express Routes, Timings, and Stops
Below is a detailed list of selected Vande Bharat Express routes, including their timings, distances, and stops, based on the latest updates as of September 2025. Note that schedules and fares may vary, so always check with IRCTC or platforms like RailYatri for real-time updates.
1. New Delhi to Varanasi (Train No. 22435/22436)
- Distance: 759 km
- Travel Time: 8 hours
- Stops: Kanpur Central, Prayagraj Jn
- Schedule:
- 22435 (New Delhi to Varanasi): Departs New Delhi at 06:00 AM, arrives Varanasi at 02:00 PM (Runs 5 days a week, except Monday and Thursday).
- 22436 (Varanasi to New Delhi): Departs Varanasi at 03:00 PM, arrives New Delhi at 11:00 PM.
- Fare: Approx. ₹1,800–₹3,000 (CC), ₹2,500–₹4,000 (EC).
- Features: This was the first Vande Bharat route, launched on February 15, 2019, reducing travel time by 15%.
2. New Delhi to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (Train No. 22439/22440)
- Distance: 655 km
- Travel Time: 8 hours (New Delhi to Katra), 8 hours 5 minutes (Katra to New Delhi)
- Stops: Ambala Cantt, Ludhiana, Jammu Tawi
- Schedule:
- 22439 (New Delhi to Katra): Departs New Delhi at 06:00 AM, arrives Katra at 02:15 PM (Runs 6 days a week, except Tuesday).
- 22440 (Katra to New Delhi): Departs Katra at 02:55 PM, arrives New Delhi at 11:00 PM.
- Fare: Approx. ₹1,600–₹2,800 (CC), ₹2,200–₹3,500 (EC).
- Features: India’s first vegetarian Vande Bharat train, ideal for pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi.
3. Chennai Egmore to Tirunelveli (Train No. 20665/20666)
- Distance: 653 km
- Travel Time: 7 hours 45 minutes
- Stops: Tambaram, Villupuram, Tiruchchirappalli, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Kovilpatti
- Schedule:
- 20665 (Chennai to Tirunelveli): Departs Chennai Egmore at 02:45 PM, arrives Tirunelveli at 10:30 PM (Runs 6 days a week, except Tuesday).
- 20666 (Tirunelveli to Chennai): Departs Tirunelveli at 06:05 AM, arrives Chennai Egmore at 01:55 PM.
- Fare: Approx. ₹1,665–₹3,055 (CC), ₹2,200–₹3,800 (EC).
- Features: Connects South India with modern amenities and faster travel times.
4. Trivandrum Central to Kasaragod (Train No. 20634/20633)
- Distance: 588 km
- Travel Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
- Stops: Kollam Jn, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Kannur
- Schedule:
- 20634 (Trivandrum to Kasaragod): Departs Trivandrum Central at 05:20 AM, arrives Kasaragod at 01:25 PM (Daily).
- 20633 (Kasaragod to Trivandrum): Departs Kasaragod at 02:30 PM, arrives Trivandrum Central at 10:40 PM.
- Fare: Approx. ₹1,400–₹2,500 (CC), ₹2,000–₹3,200 (EC).
- Features: One of Kerala’s key Vande Bharat routes, known for its scenic journey.
5. Mumbai Central to Gandhinagar Capital (Train No. 20901/20902)
- Distance: 522 km
- Travel Time: 6 hours 35 minutes
- Stops: Borivali, Vapi, Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Sabarmati
- Schedule:
- 20901 (Mumbai to Gandhinagar): Departs Mumbai Central at 06:00 AM, arrives Gandhinagar at 12:35 PM (Runs 6 days a week, except Sunday).
- 20902 (Gandhinagar to Mumbai): Departs Gandhinagar at 02:00 PM, arrives Mumbai Central at 08:35 PM.
- Fare: Approx. ₹1,400–₹2,500 (CC), ₹2,000–₹3,200 (EC).
- Features: Recently added Navsari as a stop for better connectivity.
6. Chennai Central to Mysuru (Train No. 20607/20608)
- Distance: 497 km
- Travel Time: 6 hours 30 minutes (Chennai to Mysuru), 6 hours 15 minutes (Mysuru to Chennai)
- Stops: Katpadi, Bengaluru
- Schedule:
- 20607 (Chennai to Mysuru): Departs Chennai Central at 05:50 AM, arrives Mysuru at 12:20 PM (Runs 6 days a week, except Wednesday).
- 20608 (Mysuru to Chennai): Departs Mysuru at 01:05 PM, arrives Chennai at 07:20 PM.
- Fare: Approx. ₹1,365–₹2,485 (CC), ₹1,800–₹3,000 (EC).
- Features: South India’s first Vande Bharat route, launched in November 2022.
7. Ahmedabad to Mumbai Central (Train No. 22962/22961)
- Distance: 491 km
- Travel Time: 5 hours 25 minutes
- Stops: Vadodara, Surat, Vapi, Borivali
- Schedule:
- 22962 (Ahmedabad to Mumbai): Departs Ahmedabad Jn at 06:10 AM, arrives Mumbai Central at 11:35 AM (Daily).
- 22961 (Mumbai to Ahmedabad): Departs Mumbai Central at 03:45 PM, arrives Ahmedabad at 09:15 PM.
- Fare: Approx. ₹1,300–₹2,400 (CC), ₹1,800–₹3,100 (EC).
- Features: One of the fastest Vande Bharat routes, ideal for business travelers.
8. Mumbai CSMT to Madgaon (Goa) (Train No. 22229/22230)
- Distance: 765 km
- Travel Time: 10 hours 35 minutes
- Stops: Dadar, Thane, Panvel, Khed, Ratnagiri, Kankavali, Thivim
- Schedule:
- 22229 (Mumbai to Madgaon): Departs Mumbai CSMT at 05:25 AM, arrives Madgaon at 04:00 PM (Runs 6 days a week, except Tuesday).
- 22230 (Madgaon to Mumbai): Departs Madgaon at 12:20 PM, arrives Mumbai CSMT at 10:30 PM.
- Fare: Approx. ₹1,800–₹3,200 (CC), ₹2,500–₹4,000 (EC).
- Features: Connects Mumbai to Goa, popular for tourists.
9. Visakhapatnam to Bhubaneswar (Train No. 20842/20841)
- Distance: 443 km
- Travel Time: 6 hours
- Stops: Vizianagaram, Srikakulam Road, Palasa, Brahmapur, Khurda Road, Cuttack
- Schedule:
- 20842 (Visakhapatnam to Bhubaneswar): Departs Visakhapatnam at 03:30 PM, arrives Bhubaneswar at 09:30 PM (Daily).
- 20841 (Bhubaneswar to Visakhapatnam): Departs Bhubaneswar at 05:15 AM, arrives Visakhapatnam at 11:00 AM.
- Fare: Approx. ₹1,200–₹2,200 (CC), ₹1,700–₹2,800 (EC).
- Features: Enhances connectivity in East India with high-speed travel.
10. Lucknow to Chhapra (Train No. Not Specified)
- Distance: 489 km
- Travel Time: 7 hours 15 minutes
- Stops: Sultanpur, Varanasi, Ghazipur City, Ballia, Suraimanpur
- Schedule: Runs 6 days a week, except Tuesday. Specific timings not available; check IRCTC for updates.
- Fare: Approx. ₹1,400–₹2,500 (CC), ₹2,000–₹3,200 (EC).
- Features: Connects key cities in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains (Launched September 2025)
The first Vande Bharat sleeper trains, manufactured by BEML, were introduced in September 2025 for long-distance overnight travel. These trains feature 16 coaches with AC First Class, AC 2-Tier, and AC 3-Tier, accommodating 1,128 passengers. Key routes include:
- New Delhi to Howrah
- New Delhi to Mumbai
- New Delhi to Pune (routes to be confirmed)
Features:
- Hot water showers
- Modular pantries
- Touch-free bio-vacuum toilets
- Enhanced comfort for overnight journeys
How to Book Vande Bharat Express Tickets
You can book tickets up to 120 days in advance through:
- IRCTC Website/App: Visit www.irctc.co.in, enter your origin and destination, and select Vande Bharat Express.
- Other Platforms: RailYatri, MakeMyTrip, ixigo, redRail, or Bajaj Finserv.
- Railway Counters: Available at major stations.
Steps:
- Choose your route and date.
- Select Vande Bharat Express from the train list.
- Pick your class (CC or EC).
- Enter passenger details and IRCTC User ID.
- Complete payment via multiple options.
Concessions: Available for senior citizens, differently-abled passengers, and other eligible categories as per Indian Railways guidelines. Cancellation charges range from ₹180 (CC) to ₹240 (EC), plus GST, depending on the timing.
Future Plans for Vande Bharat Express
Indian Railways aims to operate 4,500 Vande Bharat trains by 2047. Plans include:
- Expanding 8-coach and 16-coach trains to 16-coach and 20-coach configurations.
- Introducing more sleeper trains for long-distance routes.
- Adding new routes to connect more cities, especially in underserved regions.
Why Choose Vande Bharat Express?
- Time-Saving: Reduces travel time by up to 15% compared to other trains.
- Comfort: Modern interiors, reclining seats, and onboard catering.
- Reliability: Known for punctuality with an average occupancy of over 100%.
- Connectivity: Covers major cities across North, South, East, West, and Central India.
Conclusion
The Vande Bharat Express is transforming rail travel in India with its speed, comfort, and modern amenities. With 150 services operating across 75 routes as of August 2025, these trains connect major cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Varanasi, making travel faster and more enjoyable. Whether you’re a business traveler or a tourist, Vande Bharat offers a premium experience at affordable fares. Check IRCTC or trusted platforms for the latest schedules and book your tickets to experience India’s semi-high-speed rail revolution!