20888 Vande Bharat Express: Varanasi to Ranchi

20888 time table

The full Vande Bharat Express 20888 time table, from Varanasi Jn to Ranchi. Day 1 is the day the train leaves Varanasi.

These are scheduled times, checked on 11 November 2026 against two independent timetable sources. On the day you travel, the live times on NTES take priority.

20888 route and stops

20888 stops at 8 stations between Varanasi and Ranchi: Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, Sasaram, Gaya, Koderma, Hazaribagh Road, Parasnath, Bokaro Steel City, Muri. Leaving Varanasi at 15:55, 20888 runs 17 km to Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, arriving at 16:35 after 40 min. From Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya it covers 100 km to Sasaram in 1 h, arriving at 17:40. From Sasaram it covers 103 km to Gaya in 1 h 3 min, arriving at 18:45. From Gaya it covers 76 km to Koderma in 1 h, arriving at 19:50. From Koderma it covers 49 km to Hazaribagh Road in 25 min, arriving at 20:17. From Hazaribagh Road it covers 27 km to Parasnath in 31 min, arriving at 20:50. From Parasnath it covers 50 km to Bokaro Steel City in 38 min, arriving at 21:30. From Bokaro Steel City it covers 52 km to Muri in 53 min, arriving at 22:28. The last stretch, 62 km from Muri, takes 1 h 25 min and ends at Ranchi at 23:55.

Over the whole 536 km the average speed is about 67 km/h, including stops. The fastest stretch is Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya to Sasaram, 100 km at an average of about 100 km/h. The longest run without a stop is Sasaram to Gaya, 103 km. In all, the train stands at stations for about 25 minutes; the longest halt is 5 minutes at Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. Compare it with other trains in Vande Bharat speed, and on board watch your live speed with the Vande Bharat speed checker.

20888 running status

This page shows the scheduled timetable; it does not track 20888 live. To see where 20888 is now and how late it is running:

1. Open the official NTES running status page or the NTES app.
2. Enter the train number, 20888.
3. Choose the date the train left Varanasi.
4. NTES shows the last station passed, the expected time at each stop and any delay.

To see where 20888 should be at this moment by its timetable, with the next stop and time left to Ranchi, open the Vande Bharat live location tool; it is a scheduled position, so use NTES for the real one.

If 20888 runs more than 3 hours late and you decide not to travel, you get the full fare back; under IRCTC's published rules you file a TDR before the train actually leaves. See Vande Bharat TDR and late train refund.

20888 running days

20888 runs six days a week and does not run on Tuesday. The running day is the day the train leaves Varanasi. The return train 20887 runs every day except Tuesday. Check any date with the running days checker.

20888 fare

Fares for the full journey from Varanasi to Ranchi, one adult, General quota, with the meal. These are IRCTC fares as listed on erail.in and matched against its fare calculator, checked on 12 November 2026. The no-food price is not shown because we do not have the meal charge for this train.

The fare includes the reservation charge, superfast charge and GST. A shorter journey costs less; IRCTC shows the fare for your exact stations when you search. See Vande Bharat ticket price for other routes.

How to book 20888

Book 20888 on IRCTC, the official Indian Railways booking service, or at a reservation counter. Search BSB to RNC, or any pair of stations on its route, and pick CC or EC.

• Booking opens 60 days before the journey at 08:00 IST, counted from the day 20888 leaves Varanasi.
• Tatkal: opens at 10:00 IST the day before the train leaves Varanasi.
• First chart: prepared by 05:55 on the day of departure, for a 15:55 departure from Varanasi. The final chart is made about 30 minutes before departure.
• Platform: not fixed in advance. It is announced at the station on the day; check the display boards or NTES.

Step-by-step help is in the Vande Bharat booking guide.

20888 cancellation deadlines

Cancellation charges depend on how long before 20888 leaves Varanasi at 15:55 you cancel a confirmed ticket. Under the 72, 24 and 8-hour bands announced in March 2026, you pay only the flat charge (₹189 in CC, ₹252 in EC, with GST) until 15:55 three days before, 25% of the fare until 15:55 the day before, 50% until 07:55 on the day of departure, and nothing comes back after that. IRCTC's published rules still use 48, 12 and 4 hours, which for 20888 fall at 15:55 two days before, 03:55 on the day of departure and 11:55 on the day of departure. Details are in Vande Bharat cancellation charges.

20888 coach position and classes

20888 has AC Chair Car (CC) and Executive Chair Car (EC) seats. CC coaches seat 78 in a 3+2 layout (44 in the driving coach at each end); EC coaches seat 52 in a 2+2 layout, and the seats rotate. The coach order is not published train by train, so check the coach guidance board on the platform or the RailOne app for where your coach stops. See the Vande Bharat seat map.

Food on 20888

Meals on 20888 are optional. You choose a meal or No Food when you book on IRCTC, and the fare changes to match. The meal charge depends on how many meals the journey covers, so it can differ between trains on the same route. See Vande Bharat food.

Return train 20887

20887 runs the other way, from Ranchi at 05:10 to Varanasi at 13:00, in 7 h 50 min, and runs every day except Tuesday.

The Ranchi – Varanasi Vande Bharat Express (20887 / 20888) guide covers every train, stop and fare on this route.

20888 Vande Bharat FAQs

What is the departure time of 20888?
20888 leaves Varanasi Jn (BSB) at 15:55.

What time does 20888 reach Ranchi?
20888 reaches Ranchi (RNC) at 23:55, after 8 h.

How can I check the running status of 20888?
On NTES, the official National Train Enquiry System: enter 20888 and the date the train left Varanasi to see where it is and any delay.

On which days does 20888 run?
Every day except Tuesday, counted from its departure from Varanasi.

How many stops does 20888 have?
8 stops between Varanasi and Ranchi: Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, Sasaram, Gaya, Koderma, Hazaribagh Road, Parasnath, Bokaro Steel City, Muri.

What is the fare of 20888?
For the full journey, ₹1,470 in CC, ₹2,695 in EC (IRCTC fares via erail.in, 12 November 2026).

When is the chart prepared for 20888?
The first chart is prepared by 05:55 on the day of departure, and the final chart about 30 minutes before the 15:55 departure.

What is the platform number of 20888?
It is not fixed in advance. The platform is announced at Varanasi on the day; check the station display boards or NTES.

What is the return train of 20888?
20887, from Ranchi at 05:10 to Varanasi at 13:00.

Sources

Timetable: erail.in and ConfirmTkt, both checked on 11 November 2026; live running: NTES. Fares: IRCTC fares listed on erail.in, 12 November 2026. Booking and cancellation rules: IRCTC and the Ministry of Railways. Report a correction.