First Vande Bharat sleeper train to ply between Guwahati and Kolkata
The government has completed the trial, testing and certification of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train, with the first route chosen between Guwahati and Kolkata, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Thursday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first sleeper train sometime soon, the minister said at a press conference.
“For a long time, there has been a demand for new-generation trains. The Vande Bharat chair car started a new era in Indian Railways and has been widely welcomed. We are receiving demands from all corners of the country for Vande Bharat trains,” Vaishnaw said.
“The Vande Bharat Sleeper train has been designed for long-distance travel of over 1,000 kilometres. It will provide a fast, comfortable and modern travel experience for long-distance passengers. The train is equipped with advanced safety features, an improved suspension system and world-class sleeper coaches to make overnight journeys more convenient,” he added.
“Typically, airfare on the Guwahati–Howrah route ranges between Rs 6,000 and Rs 8,000 and sometimes goes up to Rs 10,000. In the Vande Bharat Sleeper, the 3AC fare from Guwahati to Howrah has been set at around Rs 2,300, which is affordable for common passengers. The 2AC fare will be about Rs 3,000, while the First AC fare has been proposed at approximately Rs 3,600, keeping the middle class in mind,” he said.
According to Vaishnaw, around 12 Vande Bharat Sleeper trains will be ready and inducted into the rail network by the end of this year, with expansion set to accelerate next year.