Vande Bharat sleeper to be launched in January! Ashwini Vaishnaw announces route & fares; check details & features of new train

Vande Bharat sleeper train to be launched soon! In a big New year cheer for Indian Railways passengers, railway minister Ashwini Vaishaw has announced that the first Vande Bharat sleeper train will be launched this month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the Vande Bharat sleeper train in the second half of January 2026.

Vande Bharat sleeper is a fully air-conditioned train set that has been manufactured by Indian Railways for long-distance routes and overnight journeys. According to Ashwini Vaishnaw, two Vande Bharat sleeper train sets are ready and have undergone successful trial runs. The new trains will be operated on 1,200-1,500 kmph routes of the national transporter.

Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Route Announced

The first Vande Bharat sleeper train will run between Guwahati and Kolkata, Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Thursday. Each Vande Bharat sleeper train has 16 coaches. The composition of the coaches is: 11 AC 3-tier, 4 AC 2-tier, and one AC 1st coach. The train can accommodate 823 passengers. Vaishnaw said that eight more Vande Bharat sleeper trains will be rolled out in the next six months, and the total will go up to 12 by year-end.

The new train is scheduled to run between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya). According to Indian Railways, the following districts will be benefitted:

• Assam: Kamrup Metropolitan, Bongaigaon
• West Bengal: Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Maldah, Murshidabad, Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, Howrah

Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Fares

According to Indian Railways, the fares of Vande Bharat sleeper train will start from Rs 2,300 for a one way fare between Guwahati and Kolkata.

• Vande Bharat sleeper AC 3-tier fare: Rs 2,300
• Vande Bharat sleeper AC 2-tier fare: Rs 3,000
• Vande Bharat sleeper AC 1st fare: Rs 3,600

Ashwini Vaishnaw recently shared a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, showcasing the train undergoing high-speed trials on the Indian Railways network.



During test runs conducted on the Kota–Nagda route, the Vande Bharat sleeper train achieved its top design speed of 180 kmph. A notable highlight from the trial was a stability demonstration in which glasses filled with water remained perfectly balanced without any water spilling even at over 180 kmph speed.

“Vande Bharat Sleeper tested today by Commissioner ailway Safety. It ran at 180 kmph between Kota Nagda section. And our own water test demonstrated the technological features of this new generation train,” Ashwini Vaishnaw wrote in his post on X.

Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Features

Designed for overnight and long-haul journeys, the Vande Bharat sleeper train is the sleeping-class counterpart of the Vande Bharat chair car services already operating across the country.

At present, two prototype rakes of the Vande Bharat sleeper train have been produced by BEML. Indian Railways is also gearing up for a broader transformation of long-distance travel, with plans to roll out more than 200 such sleeper trains in the coming years, supported by several ongoing manufacturing initiatives.

• Built for semi-high-speed operations, the Vande Bharat sleeper is designed to run at speeds of up to 160 kmph, while trial runs have been carried out at 180 kmph. Actual service speeds will vary depending on track infrastructure across the rail network.
• Inspired by European train design standards, the Vande Bharat sleeper train coaches will feature cushioned berths for added comfort, along with better access to upper berths to make movement easier for railway passengers.
• Onboard facilities include soft night-time lighting, public address systems integrated with visual information displays, CCTV cameras, and modular pantry units.
• The train will be equipped with advanced bio-vacuum toilets similar to those used in aircraft. Amenities will include toilets designed for persons with disabilities, a baby care area, and shower facilities with hot water in the air-conditioned first-class coach.
• Safety enhancements include the indigenous KAVACH anti-collision system. Like the existing chair car variant, the sleeper version will also use regenerative braking to improve energy efficiency.
• Coaches will have fully sealed gangways and automated inter-coach doors, helping maintain consistent air quality and stable cabin temperatures.
• Each coach will be fitted with personal reading lights, power charging points, foldable snack tables, and interiors finished with GFRP panels. Train doors will operate automatically at designated stations.
• A Centralised Coach Monitoring System is in place, along with emergency communication features that allow passengers to directly contact the locomotive pilot when required.

BEML is jointly producing 10 Vande Bharat sleeper train sets in partnership with the Integral Coach Factory. Another batch of 10 sleeper rakes is being built by Kinet, a joint venture involving Indian and Russian entities. In addition, a consortium led by Titagarh Rail Systems along with BHEL has secured an order to manufacture 80 sleeper-class trainsets. Separately, the Integral Coach Factory is also developing its own sleeper configuration of the Vande Bharat train as an internal project.