This train is prime example where political considerations override logical ones. There was no need to run VB on a route that supports only 110 kph and is limited to 50 kph post Haridwar I think. It has such a terrible starting time from LJN that people will need to wake up at 0400 hrs to catch this train and sacrifice their sleep [oh, and no matter even if they splurge more than 1A on the executive class of this train, they can't sleep because it's not meant for sleeping].

IR could...
more...

have easily introduced an overnight service with 7 dedicated AC coaches[ or even more , if demand was] coupled with SL + GN ones. That would have led to two advantages. First, people could have gone in a sleeping condition. Second, the carrying capacity would have doubled easily. Third, it would have served everyone right from 2A passengers to General Class ones. Assuming an early night departure so that it doesn't contradict with Mail or Lucknow AC express, it could have easily left LJN at ~1900 hrs and easily reached DDN early morning with proper slack built in.

There is no proper overnight service except for BSB-DDN crawler which is half packed already. Either case, if I had to go to DDN, why would I sacrifice my morning sleep and splurge on this rather than taking an overnighter? VBs are good on high speed routes that already have OTHER SERVICES running. The first proper service can and should never be a specialized train. This is repeating the same mistake as introducing a Garib Rath to satisfy the ego of politicians as the primary train b/w 2 stations without taking into consideration passenger's needs.