The first Vande Bharat Sleeper Express between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya) was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday. The semi-high-speed service aims to reduce travel time on the route
by 2.5 hours. It will also give a boost to religious tourism and connectivity in the region. The first train will start from Howrah on January 22, while the return journey from Guwahati will begin services from January 23.
As ticket bookings begin for the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, here’s everything you need to know about the new service.
Howrah-Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper Express Route
The Vande Bharat Sleeper train will stop at 13 stations between Howrah and Kamakhya—Rangiya, New Bongaigaon, New Alipurduar, New Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri Road, New Jalpaiguri, Aluabari Road, Malda Town, New Farakka, Azimganj, Katwa, Nabadwip Dham and Bandel.
The Kamakhya–Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper Express (27576) will operate six days of the week, with no service on Wednesday. The Howrah–Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper Express (27575) will run every day except Thursday.
Howrah-Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper Express Features
The Vande Bharat Sleeper Express will have a total capacity of 823 passengers, out of which 611 will be in 3-Tier, 188 in 2-Tier and 24 in 1 AC.
The trains have been designed for a maximum speed of 180 kmph. The train also features safety features like the indigenous KAVACH anti-collision system. Padded berths, CCTV monitoring, bio-vacuum toilets, gentle night-time lighting, baby care facilities and interiors finished with GFRP panels are also available. On the way from Guwahati, the train will serve Assamese cuisine. In the Kolkata train, Bengali cuisine will be served.
Howrah-Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper Express Station-Wise Fare
As per reports, AC 3-Tier tickets will cost Rs 960 for journeys up to 400 km. First Class AC tickets will have a fare of about Rs 1,520, while an AC 2-Tier berth will be Rs 1,240. Fares will be between Rs 2,400 and Rs 3,800 for trips close to 1,000 km.
As per the Indian Express, a ticket from Kamakhyaa to Rangiya, New Bongaigaon, New Cooch Behar, New Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri Road will cost around Rs 1010 to Rs 1,600. Those travelling between Kamakhya and New Farakka will have to pay between Rs 1,690 and Rs 2,675. Passengers going from Kamakhya to Howrah will have to shell out Rs 2,435 for an AC 3-Tier, Rs 3,145 for an AC 2-Tier and Rs 3,855 for an AC First Class ticket.
Travellers from Howrah to Kamakhya will have to pay Rs 1,334 and Rs 960 for AC 3-Tier tickets to New Jalpaiguri and Malda Town, respectively. First-class tickets to the same locations will cost Rs 2,113 and Rs 1,520.
