Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Flags Off New Bengaluru–Mumbai Express Train

The Union Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, virtually flagged off a new express train service between Bengaluru and Mumbai, strengthening rail connectivity between Karnataka and Maharashtra on one of the country’s busiest travel corridors. The launch is being seen as a major boost for passenger mobility, business travel, and regional economic integration between the two metro cities.

During the event, the minister announced that the much-awaited Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper service is expected to commence soon, further enhancing overnight premium rail travel between the two cities. He highlighted that the long-pending connectivity demands of South and North Karnataka are now being addressed through accelerated railway investments and infrastructure upgrades.

The newly launched SMVT Bengaluru – Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express is expected to improve travel convenience for passengers commuting between India’s leading technology and financial hubs. Union Minister of State for Railways, V. Somanna, said the train will significantly benefit travellers on the high-demand Bengaluru–Mumbai route while supporting Karnataka’s economic growth.

The Railway Ministry also outlined broader plans to strengthen rail infrastructure linked to the Mumbai–Bengaluru corridor. These include the upcoming Vande Bharat Sleeper maintenance depot at Thanisandra in Bengaluru, capacity enhancement projects, automatic signalling works, and multiple line doubling and quadrupling projects aimed at easing congestion and improving operational efficiency.

Ashwini Vaishnaw further revealed that high-speed rail connectivity between Bengaluru and other major cities, including Mumbai, forms part of the government’s long-term railway expansion vision. He stated that the future bullet train network connecting Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai is expected to expand to nearly 7,000 km over time.