Indian Railways is all set to start 2026 with the launch of its first-ever Vande Bharat sleeper train, which will mark a crucial upgrade in overnight train travel. The sleeper class will run between Assam’s Guwahati and West Bengal’s Howrah, informed Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi likely to flag off the inaugural run in the second half of January 2026. The announcement was made in a press release issued by the Ministry of Railways and published by the
Press Information Bureau (PIB).
Vaishnaw made the announcement at a New Year meeting at Rail Bhawan in New Delhi, adding that trials, testing and certification of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train had already been completed. He termed the development a game changer for Indian Railways and said 2026 will witness many passenger-centric reforms.
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“The testing and certification of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train have been completed, and its first proposed route is Guwahati–Kolkata. Prime Minister Modi will flag off the inaugural service on this route in the coming days,” Vaishnaw said.
According to officials, every category of travellers, such as business travellers, tourists and even students are expected to majorly benefit from this Guwahati-Howrah service.
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