The upcoming Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to flag off in mid January will change how Indian train bookings work by removing the RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) system. The train will only allow fully confirmed tickets. This means there will be no RAC seats, no waitlists, and no partially confirmed bookings, according to a Railway Board circular.
The ticket prices for the Vande Bharat sleeper will be slightly higher than existing premium trains like the Rajdhani Express. Passengers will also have to pay for at least 400 km of travel, even if their actual journey is shorter, the circular added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first Vande Bharat Sleeper Express on the Guwahati–Howrah route next week. The train is expected to reduce travel time by about three hours compared to current express services.
On regular long-distance AC trains, waitlisted tickets get cancelled but RAC tickets allow two passengers to share a side lower berth. This sharing option will not be offered on the Vande Bharat sleeper trains.
The new service will continue to offer special reserved quotas for women, senior citizens, Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and railway staff, just like other long-distance trains.
Vande Bharat: Fares without GST
-3AC: Rs 2.4 per km (minimum Rs 960 for 400 km)
-2AC: Rs 3.1 per km (minimum Rs 1,240 for 400 km)
-1AC: Rs 3.8 per km (minimum Rs 1,520 for 400 km)
Vande Bharat fares vs Rajdhani and other trains
On the 1,000-km Howrah–Guwahati route, fares will be Rs 2,400 (3AC), Rs 3,100 (2AC) and Rs 3,800 (1AC). For a 2,000-km trip, the fares double accordingly. These rates are slightly higher than the Rajdhani Express. For example, on the Delhi–Mumbai route, the Rajdhani charges roughly Rs 2.10 per km in 3AC, Rs 2.85 in 2AC and Rs 3.53 in 1AC.
The semi-high-speed Vande Bharat sleeper trains are being promoted as the new standard for comfort and luxury, much like the Rajdhani was when it first began in 1969.
Vande Bharat sleeper route and stops
The first service will stop at 10 stations in West Bengal – including Howrah, Hooghly, Bardhaman, Murshidabad, Malda, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar – and at two stations in Assam, Kamrup Metropolitan and Bongaigaon. It is designed for overnight travel, leaving late evening and arriving the next morning.
The 16-coach train will have 11 coaches of 3AC, four of 2AC and one first AC coach. Although the train can run at 180 kmph, it will operate at a maximum of 130 kmph on this route for safety. Rajdhani trains, in comparison, run at an average of 80–90 kmph.
Key features include better-cushioned berths, automatic doors, smoother suspension, noise reduction, the Kavach safety system, an emergency talk-back feature, improved sanitation technology, advanced driver controls, an aerodynamic design and automatic exterior doors.