VARANASI: A Railway Board timetable dated Tuesday, October 27, 2026, sets out overnight departures for the proposed Varanasi Junction to New Delhi Vande Bharat Sleeper service, according to two reports published on Wednesday. For passengers using Cantt station, the new detail is a planned 8.50 pm IST departure from Varanasi and arrival in New Delhi at 6.10 am the following day.
The reverse working, numbered 27422, is listed to leave New Delhi at 9.40 pm IST and reach Varanasi Junction at 7.10 am the next morning. The Varanasi departure carries number 27421. These published timings move the story beyond the earlier proposal for a sleeper connection, although the reports distinguish the timetable from the still unannounced start of regular operations.
Departure times and days of operation
Both reports describe a service operating six days a week in each direction. The Varanasi to New Delhi train is scheduled to have no departure on Fridays. The New Delhi to Varanasi working is scheduled to have no departure on Saturdays. Travellers should apply the weekly exception to the departure station and date of their own journey.
| Train | Departure, IST | Next morning arrival, IST | No departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27421, Varanasi Junction to New Delhi | 8.50 pm | 6.10 am | Friday |
| 27422, New Delhi to Varanasi Junction | 9.40 pm | 7.10 am | Saturday |
The end to end timings imply a journey of nine hours and 20 minutes towards New Delhi and nine hours and 30 minutes towards Varanasi. These durations are calculated from the reported departure and arrival times. In both directions, the destination arrival falls on the calendar day after boarding.
The route described in both accounts includes Prayagraj Junction, Kanpur Central, Aligarh and Ghaziabad. Intermediate station timings differ in the published accounts, so passengers making a connection at one of those stops should check the final railway schedule before arranging onward travel.
Inauguration and regular bookings are separate
The reports describe an October 31 inauguration involving Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. They also say the date of regular commercial operation had not been announced. An inauguration plan alone should therefore not be treated as confirmation that tickets for a particular regular departure are available.
For the operating railway's updates and passenger enquiry links, use the Northern Railway official website. Before making a booking, confirm the train number, departure date, boarding station and destination against the railway's final listing. Cantt, officially Varanasi Junction, should be distinguished from Banaras station when checking a ticket or programme.
What the sleeper designation means
The sleeper format is intended for overnight berth travel. As background, a Ministry of Railways release from January 3, 2026 described the first sleeper train's formation as 16 coaches: 11 AC three tier, four AC two tier and one AC first class. That earlier release concerns a different route and does not establish the final formation or booking availability of the Varanasi service.
For previous local rail developments, see the Banaras to Prayagraj Rambagh MEMU approval, earlier Banaras to Delhi cancellations and drinking water checks in the Varanasi railway division. These cover separate services and passenger facilities.
