Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday introduced India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train that is set to run from Guwahati to Kolkata. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the train in the coming days, he told the reporters.
Hailing the achievement as a major milestone, he said the Vande Bharat sleeper train will provide passengers with world-class facilities, safety, and a modern travel experience on long-distance overnight journeys.
“The services will become operational in the next 15-20 days, possibly around January 18 or 19. We have requested the prime minister, and everything is clear. I will announce the exact date in the next two to three days,” the minister said.
The Minister said that the fare of the Guwahati-Howrah route has been set at approximately Rs 2300.
“Typically, airfare on the Guwahati-Howrah route ranges between Rs6,000 and Rs8,000, and sometimes reaches as high as Rs10,000. In the Vande Bharat Sleeper, the 3AC fare from Guwahati to Howrah has been set at approximately Rs2,300, which is quite affordable for common passengers. Meanwhile, the 2AC fare will be around Rs3,000. Additionally, keeping the middle class in mind, the First AC fare has been proposed at approximately Rs3,600,” he said.
“The train starting from Guwahati will serve Assamese cuisine, while the one from Kolkata will offer Bengali food to passengers,” he added.
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“For a long time, there has been a demand for new generation trains. Vande Bharat chair car started a new era in Indian Railways. People started liking it a lot. Demands are being received from all corners of the country for running Vande Bharat trains,” he said.
“The Vande Bharat Sleeper train has been designed keeping long-distance travel of over a thousand kilometers in mind. This train will provide a fast, comfortable, and modern travel experience to long-distance passengers. The Vande Bharat Sleeper is equipped with advanced safety features, an improved suspension system, and world-class sleeper coaches to make overnight journeys more convenient,” the Minister added.
The minister said that about 12 Vande Bharat Sleeper trains will be ready and inducted into the rail network by the end of this year.
Indian Railways has successfully completed the final high-speed trial of the indigenously designed and manufactured Vande Bharat Sleeper Train under the supervision of the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS). The trial was conducted on the Kota-Nagda section, during which the train achieved a maximum speed of 180 kmph, marking a significant milestone in India’s journey towards advanced and self-reliant rail technology.
Ashwini Vaishnaw earlier shared a video of the high-speed trial on social media, highlighting the successful CRS trial of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train. The video also showcased a water-glass stability demonstration, in which glasses filled with water remained steady without spillage even at high speed, underscoring the advanced ride quality, superior suspension, and technological robustness of this new-generation train.
Vande Bharat train can run at 180 kmph, will have 16 coaches
Describing the features of the sleeper train, Vaishnaw said, “The design speed of the train is 180 kmph. It will have 16 coaches — eleven 3-tier, four 2-tier, and one AC, and will be quipped with Kavach and Emergency talk back systems.”
“It also has a special disinfectant technology to ensure high sanitation facilities for passengers. It has aerodynamic exterior looks and automatic exterior passenger doors,” he added.
“The complete testing and certification of the Vande Bharat sleeper train has been completed. Its first route is proposed to be Guwahati–Kolkata. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first Vande Bharat sleeper train on this route in the coming days. This achievement is a major milestone…The Vande Bharat sleeper train will provide passengers with world-class facilities, safety, and a modern travel experience on long-distance overnight journeys…”
