India’s journey towards modernising its railways took a major step forward on Saturday, January 17, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Howrah–Guwahati (Kamakhya) Vande Bharat Sleeper Train at Malda Town Railway Station. The semi-high-speed train is expected to reduce travel time by 2.5 hours while improving connectivity and boosting religious tourism along the route.
While the train’s speed and convenience have been widely discussed, passengers have long raised concerns about hygiene on overnight journeys, especially the cleanliness of blankets and bedding. Indian Railways seems to have addressed this issue. Recently, a vlogger travelling on the train shared a video giving a closer look at the bedding provided on the Vande Bharat
Sleeper Train.
New Blanket Covers In Vande Bharat Sleeper Tackle Hygiene Concerns
The video starts by showing the blue checkered blanket and explains the issue that often worries passengers: “Toh bhai, mai filhal Vande Bharat Sleeper mein yatra kar raha tha aur jo hai, humko jo blanket hai, wo aisi mili hai. Jo traditional blanket milti thi, usse toh kafi alag hai. Ye jo colour hai, change kiya gaya hai jiska ganda hone ka risk hai (So, I am currently travelling on the Vande Bharat Sleeper, and this is the blanket we got. It is quite different from the traditional blankets. The color has been changed to reduce the risk of it looking dirty).”
Here, he explains that Indian Railways has changed the blanket design and colour to make it look cleaner for passengers and reduce complaints about used blankets. He then shows the white blanket cover with the Northern Frontier Railway (NFR) logo and explains how it works:
“Indian Railways ab aise blanket covers dena shuru kar chuki hai Vande Bharat Sleeper mein. Esko blanket par laga kar use karo. Aapke bad agar dusra passenger ayega, toh ye blanket cover change kar diya jayega ar naya blanket cover chadha diya jayega. Toh esse jo hai passenger ki shikayat thi ki hume used blanket milta hai, wo bhi hal hoga aur Railway par ye blanket washing ka kharcha bhi kam hoga (Indian Railways has now started giving these blanket covers in the Vande Bharat Sleeper. Place it on your blanket and use it. When the next passenger boards, the cover will be replaced with a new one. This solves the passenger complaint of getting used blankets and also reduces the cost of washing for the railways).”
In simple terms, the vlogger explains that each passenger now receives a blanket with a removable cover, which is replaced after use. This is something that older trains running for decades never provide.
Watch The Clip Here
Premium Linen Kits For Every Passenger: What’s Included
Before the train’s inauguration, the Railway Board issued a directive that each passenger would receive a premium mill-made linen kit, which includes:
A bed sheet
A pillow with a cover
A wool-rich premium blanket with a cover
A hand towel
These kits will be provided in all AC classes to maintain the premium standard of the service.
What Passengers Can Expect On The Vande Bharat Sleeper
The Howrah–Guwahati Vande Bharat Sleeper is designed for efficiency and comfort:
Speed & Coaches: 180 kmph design speed, 16 coaches (eleven 3-tier, four 2-tier and one first-class AC).
Safety Features: Equipped with Kavach and emergency talk-back systems.
Capacity & Fares: It can accommodate a total of 823 passengers with AC 3-tier tickets starting at Rs 960, AC 2-tier at Rs 1,240 and First Class AC at Rs 1,520. For longer journeys exceeding 1,000 km, fares range from Rs 2,400 to Rs 3,800.
Food And Service: Passengers can enjoy local cuisine onboard with Assamese dishes served on trains starting from Guwahati and Bengali fare on journeys beginning in Kolkata, along with dinner at night and tea in the morning.
Access: It is open only to the general public with no VIP or emergency quota. Only confirmed ticket holders are allowed to board.
