PM Modi to flag off India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper, marking a new era in overnight rail travel

India’s rail modernization drive is set to cross a major milestone this month, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to launch the country’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train by January 20. The premium overnight service will run between Kolkata (Howrah) and Guwahati (Kamakhya), significantly upgrading long-distance rail travel to the Northeast.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the new sleeper variant builds on the success of the Vande Bharat chair car trains and reflects a broader reform push within Indian Railways. “This is just the beginning,” he said, describing the sleeper service as a landmark achievement under the government’s rail transformation agenda.

The Kolkata–Guwahati Vande Bharat sleeper will traverse nine districts across West Bengal and Assam, halting at 10 stations including Howrah, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, Murshidabad, Malda, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar in West Bengal, and Kamrup Metropolitan and Bongaigaon in Assam. Designed as an overnight service, the train will depart late evening and arrive the next morning.

Configured with 16 coaches, the train will offer 823 berths — 611 in 3AC, 188 in 2AC and 24 in 1AC. While capable of speeds up to 180 kmph, it will operate at a maximum of 130 kmph on this route in line with safety norms.

Keeping affordability at the core, the Railways has fixed fares well below airfare levels, with ₹2,300 for 3AC, ₹3,000 for 2AC and ₹3,600 for 1AC, and no dynamic pricing. Regional culinary touches have also been built in, with Assamese cuisine served on trains originating from Guwahati and Bengali food on services departing Kolkata.

Vaishnaw said the choice of the eastern and northeastern corridor aligns with the government’s Purvodaya initiative, aimed at holistic development of the region, and reflects a conscious push to extend premium rail services beyond traditional high-density routes.

Highlighting future plans, the minister announced that eight Vande Bharat sleeper trains will be rolled out over the next six months, with 12 expected by the end of the year. In the long term, Indian Railways plans to manufacture 200 sleeper variants, all designed and built domestically. Each coach costs ₹8–8.5 crore, lower than the cost of a typical metro coach, strengthening India’s ambitions to export rolling stock after achieving full maturity by 2029.

The sleeper train is equipped with ergonomically designed berths, improved cushioning, automatic doors with vestibules, superior suspension, noise reduction systems, and advanced safety features including Kavach automatic train protection and an emergency talk-back system. Additional features include disinfectant technology for sanitation, an advanced driver cab and an aerodynamic exterior.

The train successfully completed its final high-speed trial on December 30, 2025, on the Kota–Nagda section, achieving 180 kmph under the supervision of the Commissioner of Railway Safety. With CRS approval now in place, the Vande Bharat sleeper is cleared for commercial operations.

In a parallel update, Vaishnaw said the first operational stretch of India’s bullet train project—between Surat and Bilimora on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor—is expected to be ready by August 15, 2027, with the full project slated for completion by December 2029.