Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw Thursday, introduced India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train that is set to run from Guwahati to Kolkata. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon inaugurate
the train, Vaishnaw said, adding it will be rolled out in the next 17-18 days.
“The design speed of the train is 180 kmph. It will have 16 coaches — eleven 3-tier, four 2-tier, and one AC, and will be quipped with Kavach and Emergency talk back systems,” Vaishnaw said as described the features of the train.
The Sleeper Version of the Vande Bharat train will be launched this month between two poll-bound states — Assam and West Bengal. The term of the two assemblies will end in May and the elections are likely to be held in the two states around March and April.
The Minister assured that all the details regarding the train will be issued by the weekend. Two trains will be launched and will operate from both sides. The journey will be overnight – serving dinner at night and tea in the morning.
The indigenously designed and manufactured Vande Bharat Sleeper Train, when starting from Guwahati, will serve Assamese cuisine. On its way from Kolkata, Bengali cuisine will be served, the Union minister said.
The train will have 16 coaches – 11 for 3AC with 611 seats, 4 for 2AC with 188 seats and one for first AC with 24 seats. These coaches will have a collective capacity of 823.
The tentative cost of the travel will range from Rs 2,300 for 3 Tier, to Rs 3,000 for 2 Tier, and Rs 3,600 for first AC. The Minister explained that the cost will be Rs 2.40 per km for 3AC, Rs 3.10 for 2 AC and Rs 3.80 for 1AC.
The Ministry is aiming to introduce eight more trains in the next six months and 12 more trains by the year-end. In total, the aim is for 200 sleeper trains in the coming years.
Vande Bharat Sleeper variant is the third category after Chair Car and Vande Metro. These semi-high-speed trains have a design speed of up to 180 kmph and this train will operate six days a week from both sides.
It is also important to note that the Indian Railways has completed the final high-speed trial of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train under the supervision of the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS).
The trial was conducted on the Kota-Nagda section, during which the train achieved a maximum speed of 180 kmph, marking a significant milestone in India’s journey towards advanced and self-reliant rail technology.
The train is equipped with comfortable sleeper berths, advanced suspension systems, automatic doors, modern toilets, fire detection and safety monitoring systems, CCTV-based surveillance, digital passenger information systems, and energy-efficient technologies. These features are aimed at providing passengers with a safe, comfortable, and world-class travel experience.
The launch comes months ahead of Assembly elections in the two states, with rail connectivity emerging as a key infrastructure focus in the eastern region.
