India’s push towards modernising its railways entered a new phase on January 17 with the inauguration of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train. Flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Malda Town Railway
Station, the train connects Howrah Junction in West Bengal with Kamakhya Junction (Guwahati) in Assam.
Since its launch, several videos on social media have highlighted how different the Vande Bharat Sleeper looks from conventional trains with modern coaches, upgraded amenities and a more flight-like experience. But alongside the praise, another side of the journey has also surfaced online. A video shared by a vlogger recently shows a grim reality inside the Vande Bharat Sleeper on its very first day.
Vande Bharat Sleeper’s First Run Exposes Civic Sense Issue
In the video, the vlogger pans his camera across the coach floor that shows empty cups and litter scattered inside the compartment despite dustbins being installed.
“Ek dil ki baat karna chaunga, ye lo ye dekh lo aap (I want to say something from the heart, just look at this),” he says while pointing at the trash.
He then questions who is really at fault: “Ab ye Railway ki galti hai ya government ki galti hai ya khud ki galti hai? Aap mere ko bata do. Civic sense dekhlo aap. Nayi train chali hai, pehla din hai aur aap ye sab kar rahe hai (Now tell me, is this the Railways’ fault, the government’s fault or our own? Look at the civic sense. It’s a brand-new train, the very first day, and this is what’s happening).”
He adds, “Aage se ghumke aa raha hu, dekha hai maine kafi gandgi hai bich mein, logo ne ki hui hai. Dustbin diye hai, sab kuch diya hua hai – use kar lo yaar, kya chala jayega? (I’ve walked through the coach and seen a lot of filth left behind by passengers. Dustbins are provided, everything is there – just use them, what will you lose?)”
In the caption, he summed it up bluntly: “The train is world-class, but our civic sense isn’t.”
While this footage highlighted careless behaviour, a batch of videos showed a completely different experience onboard.
Flight-Like Service In Vande Bharat Sleeper Train
In a separate clip, a passenger is seen praising the service style inside the Vande Bharat Sleeper as pantry staff move through the coach with a trolley to distribute snacks and food individually much like cabin crew on flights.
“Ye hum log Vande Bharat Sleeper Train mein safar kar rahe hai aur esme dekhiye bahut accha ye laga ki jaise flight mein khana serve kiya jata hai, wese bhai ab train mein khana serve hora hai. Adhunik taknik wali nayi Vande Bharat Express (We’re travelling on the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train, and what really impressed me is that food is now being served just like it is on flights. This is the new Vande Bharat Express with modern technology),” he says.
The video also shows pantry staff wearing gloves and hairnets with visible attention to hygiene while handling food.
The overlay text on the clip reads, “Flight jaisi Suvidha ab train mein (Flight-like facilities now available on train).”
What’s Inside The Snack Box On Board?
Another viral clip focuses on the snack box passengers received during the journey. A passenger opens the box on camera and shows neatly packed items that stood out for both variety and presentation.
The snack box included sawli (a type of namkeen), a soft drink, cupcake, kachori, peanut chikki, pasta mixture and kaju katli along with a packet of ketchup and a wet wipe. The vlogger mentions that this special assortment was provided on the inaugural run and that some items may change once the service begins commercial operations.
Inside The Meals Served On Vande Bharat Sleeper
Food videos didn’t stop there. One passenger travelling in First AC shared a detailed look at the meals served during lunch and dinner.
“As we boarded the train, we received a water bottle and lunch. The packaging was top notch,” he said. Lunch included pulao, paratha, dal, aloo gobhi fry and pickle followed by rasogulla and mishti doi for dessert.
In his caption, he wrote, “Taking my first First Class sleeper trip on the Vande Bharat Express. The food service is truly impressive; the lunch from BM Grand featured top-notch packaging and authentic flavors. From the savory Aloo Gobi to the sweet Mishti Doi, it’s a meal you shouldn’t miss.”
Later, he shared dinner details as well that included fried rice with aloo gobhi, matar paneer, soft parathas, chilli and mango pickle, yellow rasgulla and curd.
“If you’re travelling solo, the portion size is more than enough. Definitely worth the ticket price!” he added.
It should be noted that the train will serve local cuisine based on its route: Assamese dishes on journeys starting from Guwahati and Bengali fare for trains beginning in Kolkata. Since it is primarily an overnight service, dinner is served at night followed by morning tea.
More About India’s First Vande Bharat Sleeper Train
The Vande Bharat Sleeper Train is designed to reduce travel time on the Howrah–Kamakhya route by around 2.5 hours. It has a design speed of 180 kmph and consists of 16 coaches: eleven AC 3-tier, four AC 2-tier and one First Class AC. Safety features include the Kavach system and emergency talk-back facilities.
The total passenger capacity is 823 with 611 seats in AC 3-tier, 188 in AC 2-tier and 24 in First Class AC. Ticket prices start at Rs 960 for AC 3-tier journeys up to 400 km, Rs 1,240 for AC 2-tier and Rs 1,520 for First Class AC. For longer journeys close to 1,000 km, fares range between Rs 2,400 and Rs 3,800.
The train stops at 13 stations between Howrah and Kamakhya: New Jalpaiguri, Malda Town, New Farakka, Azimganj, Nabadwip Dham and Bandel. The Kamakhya–Howrah service will run six days a week excluding Wednesday while the Howrah–Kamakhya service will run daily except Thursday.
The Vande Bharat Sleeper is open only to the general public with no VIP or emergency quota. Even senior railway officials cannot use railway passes and only confirmed ticket holders are allowed to board.
