PM Narendra Modi has officially flagged off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train from Malda Town railway station in West Bengal. The much-awaited Vande Bharat Sleeper train will run from Howrah Junction in West Bengal to Kamakhya Junction in Guwahati, Assam. It will cover the entire distance of 958 km in just 14 hours.
The train has been in the testing phase for more than a year. During this phase, the train successfully touched a speed of 180 kmph. However, the operating speed is capped at 160 kmph. The Vande Bharat Sleeper train will reduce travel time by approximately 2.5 hours compared to other trains on the same route.
Howrah to Kamakhya (27575) Vande Bharat Sleeper Schedule
The Vande Bharat Sleeper will run six days a week from Howrah Junction to Kamakhya Junction except on Thursday. The train will depart from Howrah Junction at 6:20 pm and arrive at Kamakhya Junction the next morning at 8:20 am. During the journey, the train will stop at Bandel Jn., Nabadwip Dham, Azimganj, Katwa Jn., New Farakka Jn., Malda Town, Aluabari Road, New Jalpaiguri, Jalpaiguri Road, New Cooch Behar, New Alipurduar, New Bongaigaon, and Rangiya.
Kamakhya to Howrah (27576) Vande Bharat Sleeper Schedule
The Vande Bharat Sleeper will run six days a week from Kamakhya Junction to Howrah Junction except on Wednesday. The train will depart from Kamakhya Junction at 6:15 pm and arrive at Howrah Junction the next morning at 8:15 am. The train has official stops at Rangiya, New Bongaigaon, New Alipurduar, New Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri Road, New Jalpaiguri, Aluabari Road, Malda Town, New Farakka Jn., Azimganj, Katwa Jn., Nabadwip Dham, and Bandel Jn.
Vande Bharat Sleeper: Passenger Capacity and Coach Configuration
The Vande Bharat Sleeper train between Howrah and Guwahati has 16 fully air-conditioned coaches that can accommodate 823 passengers. Similar to other long-distance trains, this train also has three classes: AC 1-tier, AC 2-tier, and AC 3-tier. The Vande Bharat Sleeper train can accommodate 611 passengers in the AC 3-tier class across eleven coaches, 188 passengers in the AC 2-tier class across four coaches, and 24 passengers in the AC 1-tier class.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Fare
The fares on the Vande Bharat Sleeper are at par with Rajdhani trains and cheaper than airfare. The minimum chargeable distance on this train is 400 km, and the starting price is ₹960 for AC 3-tier tickets, ₹1,240 for AC 2-tier tickets, and ₹1,520 for the First Class AC tickets. The base fare for the entire journey is ₹2,299 for AC 3-tier, ₹2,970 for AC 2-tier, and ₹3,640 for the First Class AC tickets.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Features
- For overnight comfort, the berths have been ergonomically designed with improved cushioning and better padding.
- The ladder has been redesigned in such a way that the upper berth passenger can easily and safely climb to their berth.
- Privacy curtains have been provided for each berth.
- The first and last coaches have divyangjan-friendly berths.
- Each berth has USB charging ports and integrated reading lights.
- The train is also equipped with modern bio-vacuum toilets, similar to aircraft designs.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Safety Standards
- In all coaches, CCTV surveillance cameras have been installed for passengers’ security.
- The train has advanced fire safety mechanisms.
- The Vande Bharat Sleeper is equipped with the indigenous Kavach automatic train protection system. This anti-collision technology prevents collisions by automatically applying brakes when it detects another train on the same track.
- Emergency talk-back units have been installed throughout the train to allow passengers to communicate directly with crew members during urgent situations.
What’s Next?
Indian Railways already has plans to launch more than a hundred Vande Bharat Sleeper trains over the next few years.
A Kind Request to Our Readers
We all love our modern and advanced Vande Bharat Express and Vande Bharat Sleeper trains. They are the pride of our nation. Let’s make a conscious effort to keep our berths and floors litter-free. Please use the provided bins to dispose of wrappers, bottles, and food waste. Let’s keep the toilets clean and dry so that the next person can use them properly.
Apart from cleanliness, please help your fellow passengers whenever you feel they might need help. Please use headphones while listening to music or watching videos on your phone to avoid disturbing fellow passengers. Let’s make our Vande Bharat journeys peaceful and memorable for ourselves and everyone around us.