In a landmark development for Indian Railways, the nation's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train is set to commence operations next week, significantly enhancing connectivity between eastern and northeastern India. The semi-high-speed, long-distance train will run on the pivotal Howrah to Guwahati (Kamakhya) route, offering passengers a markedly improved travel experience characterized by greater speed, safety, and comfort.
Route, Stoppages, and Regional Connectivity
The inaugural Vande Bharat Sleeper service will operate on the Howrah-Guwahati-Howrah circuit, traversing through nine key districts across West Bengal and Assam. This strategic route is designed to bridge the eastern and northeastern regions more efficiently. The train will make halts at eight major stations: Bandel, Katwa, New Farakka, Malda Town, New Jalpaiguri, New Coochbehar, and New Bongaigaon. These stoppages cover the districts of Howrah, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, Murshidabad, Malda, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar in West Bengal, along with Kamrup Metropolitan and Bongaigaon in Assam.
A Triumph of Indigenous Engineering: The Make in India Initiative
The Railways has hailed the Vande Bharat Sleeper as a shining example of the Make in India initiative. In an official statement, it emphasized that the train's three most critical systems—the bogie, propulsion system, and vehicle control system—have been entirely designed and developed within the country. This makes the train set a fully indigenous achievement, showcasing India's growing prowess in advanced railway manufacturing and technology.
Developed by BEML utilizing technology from the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, the train boasts a robust design capable of high-speed performance.
Operational Speed and Safety Paramount
While the Vande Bharat Sleeper train has an impressive design speed of up to 180 kmph, its operational speed on the Howrah-Guwahati route will be capped at 130 kmph. The Railways clarified that the actual speed of a train is influenced by various factors, including track geometry, enroute stoppages, and ongoing maintenance work in the section. "Designed for high-speed performance, the train is capable of attaining a maximum speed of 180 kmph; however, for this service it will operate at a speed of up to 130 kmph, keeping safety considerations paramount," the statement read. This cautious approach ensures passenger safety while still offering a significant reduction in travel time, which is expected to be cut by approximately three hours compared to existing services.
The introduction of this orange and grey coloured sleeper variant marks a new chapter for long-distance rail travel in India. It is the first of its kind in the Vande Bharat series to offer sleeper accommodations, catering to overnight journeys on routes spanning 1,000–1,500 km. The launch next week on the Howrah-Guwahati corridor is a precursor to a broader rollout, with plans for more such trains in the coming years.
