India’s First Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Begins Operation

Indian Railways has launched the much awaited Vande  Bharat Sleeper train. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the first Vande Bharat train on 17th of January 2026.  This would be a boon for passengers looking for long distance and overnight journeys. Pre-existing Vande Bharat trains had only EC and CC in train coaches.

The first Vande Bharat train that will commence will be on the Howrah to Kamakhya train route. The inaugural commercial run of the train will commence on 22nd of January 2026. This event marks a historic shift in Indian Railways, as the railways have moved their focus away from traditional Rajdhani and Duronto trains.

Howrah to Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper Train

Howrah to Kamakhya Vande Bharat train (Train No. 27575/27576) will connect the Indian states of Assam and West Bengal. The distance of the journey is 968 kilometres which will be covered in 14 hours.

There are 13 stops on this route. Here is the complete train schedule of the both the trains (up and down)

Fun fact: Do you know How Many Platforms in Howrah Railway Station

What Makes the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Different?

The biggest feature of Vande Bharat Sleeper train is obviously its suitability for long distance travel by providing sleeping amenities. Besides this, there are some important features of this new train:

• High Speed: Although the current running speed is around 130 kmph, the designed speed of this train is in the range of 180 kmph.

• Coach Distribution: A 16 coach train would consist of 11 Third AC Coaches, 4 Second AC Coaches and 1 First AC Coach.

• Flight like experience: The train gives a flight like experience with features like Sensor based train doors, bio vacuum toilets and even shower cubicles for First AC Coach.

• Safety: This train is equipped with the Kavach anti-collision system and has fire fighting mechanisms.

• Regional Cuisine: There will be special provision for providing regional food in train. In the Howrah to Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper Train, be prepared to be greeted with Assamese and Bengali cuisines. 

Note: Indian Railways has announced that there would be no Waiting List (WL) or Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) tickets.

New Ticket Booking Rules for Sleeper Vande Bharat

The ticket booking rules for the newly launched train are much more strict. Here are some of the changes:

• Tickets will cost passengers for a minimum distance of 400 kilometres. Even if you travel less than this, you  would have to pay the price of 400 kilometres.
• Even if you cancel immediately after booking, the 25% amount will be deducted. If you cancel the booking within the time frame of 8 hours before departure, no refund amount will be provided. 
• No RAC or WL in the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train.

Future Routes for Vander Bharat Sleeper Trains

Howrah to Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper Train is just the start. Indian Railways plans to roll out 12 more Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains by March 2027.

The train routes which are among the highest priority list for these trains include:

• Delhi to Patna train route
• Delhi to Mumbai train route
• Bengaluru to Hyderabad train route