Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday offered a first glimpse of the upcoming Vande Bharat sleeper train, describing it as a new-generation service designed to significantly improve comfort on overnight journeys.
The minister, while reviewing the new train, said that focus was towards upgrading amenities to make long-distance rail travel smoother and more passenger-friendly.
He highlighted several upgrades in the sleeper version of the Vande Bharat train, including an enhanced suspension system across the coaches and the driver’s cabin.
The train is equipped with new semi-automatic couplers to minimise jerks while travelling, CCTV cameras, redesigned seats, and modern washrooms aimed at reducing water wastage.
A new pantry layout has also been introduced, while berths have been provided for staff on duty.
Minister Vaishnaw said the broader focus of these improvements is to position the railways as a reliable and comfortable mode of transport for middle- and low-income families, especially on long-distance routes.
The showcase comes ahead of the launch of the first Vande Bharat sleeper train, which will be taking place later this month. PM Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the service in the second half of January 2026. The Vande Bharat sleeper is a fully air-conditioned train set developed by
Indian Railways specifically for long-distance and overnight journeys.
According to the minister, two Vande Bharat sleeper train sets are already ready and have completed successful trial runs. These trains are designed to operate on routes spanning 1,200 to 1,500 kilometres. The first service will run between Guwahati and Kolkata, with the route covering Howrah and Kamakhya.
Each Vande Bharat sleeper train will have 16 coaches, comprising 11 AC three-tier coaches, four AC two-tier coaches and one AC first-class coach. The total passenger capacity of the train is 823. Vaishnaw said that eight more Vande Bharat sleeper trains will be rolled out over the next six months, taking the total number to 12 by the end of the year.
Indian Railways said that the new service will benefit several districts along the route. In Assam, Kamrup Metropolitan and Bongaigaon will be covered, while in West Bengal the train will serve Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Maldah, Murshidabad, Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly and Howrah.
Fares for the Vande Bharat sleeper train will start at Rs 2,300 for a one-way journey between Guwahati and Kolkata. The AC three-tier fare has been fixed at Rs 2,300, AC two-tier at Rs 3,000 and AC first class at Rs 3,600.
Furthermore, advancements have also been made on the route for first bullet train in India, which is expected to be launched by 15 August, 2027.
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