Bengaluru: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said a second Vande Bharat Sleeper train between Bengaluru and Mumbai had been announced, with a route through North Karnataka. His statement came on Kannada Rajyotsava, following the flag-off of a separate Bengaluru–Mumbai sleeper service at SMVT Bengaluru earlier that day.
Joshi listed Tumkur, Davangere, Haveri, Hubli, Dharwad and Belagavi on the second train’s route. He said the proposed connection would improve connectivity and support regional growth in North Karnataka.
The announcement did not specify a commencement date, timetable, train number or fares for the second service.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Joshi were among those who took part in the November 1 flag-off at Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal.
The earlier South Western Railway service announcement listed the inaugurated service’s route through Anantapur, Guntakal, Raichur, Yadgir, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune and Kalyan. It scheduled regular Mumbai-origin departures from November 2 and Bengaluru-origin departures from November 3. Those dates concern that service, not the newly announced North Karnataka route.
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