In a landmark development for Indian Railways, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the country's first Vande Bharat sleeper train service by January 20, 2026. The premium overnight train will connect Kolkata (Howrah) and Guwahati (Kamakhya), marking a significant upgrade in rail connectivity for the eastern and northeastern regions.
Route, Capacity, and Launch Details
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made the official announcement on Thursday, confirming the launch timeline. The train will traverse nine districts across West Bengal and Assam, making it a crucial link for Purvodaya (development of the east). The service will cover 10 stops across Howrah, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, Murshidabad, Malda, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Kamrup metropolitan, and Bongaigaon.
The 16-coach train has a total passenger capacity of 823. The seating is divided into 611 berths in 3AC, 188 in 2AC, and 24 in 1AC. While the train is technically capable of reaching speeds of 180 kmph, it will operate at a maximum of 130 kmph on this route due to safety considerations related to the existing track infrastructure.
Fare Structure, Cuisine, and Future Plans
In a move to make the service competitive with air travel, the Railways has set fixed, non-dynamic fares. The ticket price for a 3AC berth is set at Rs 2,300, while 2AC will cost Rs 3,000 and 1AC Rs 3,600. To enhance the passenger experience with regional flavors, the train departing from Guwahati will serve Assamese cuisine, and the one originating from Kolkata will offer Bengali food.
Minister Vaishnaw emphasized that this launch is just the beginning. He revealed that eight Vande Bharat sleeper trains will be rolled out in the next six months, with a total of 12 expected by the end of 2026. The long-term vision involves manufacturing 200 such sleeper trains over the coming years.
Made-in-India Technology and Export Ambitions
Highlighting the indigenous design and manufacturing, Vaishnaw stated that the three most critical systems of the train—the bogie, propulsion system, and vehicle control—were all designed in India, making it a completely 'Made-in-India' train. The cost per coach is approximately Rs 8-8.5 crore, which is lower than the average metro coach cost of Rs 10-10.5 crore.
The Railways aims to achieve perfection in this model by 2029, after which it plans to explore export opportunities. The train is equipped with advanced features including the Kavach automatic train protection system, ergonomically designed berths, automatic doors, superior suspension for noise reduction, and disinfectant technology for sanitation.
The train successfully completed its final high-speed trial under the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) on December 30, 2025, on the Kota-Nagda section, where it achieved the top speed of 180 kmph.
In a related update on high-speed rail, Minister Vaishnaw also announced that the first section of India's bullet train project—the Surat to Bilimora stretch of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail—is targeted for completion by August 15, 2027. The entire project is expected to be finished by December 2029.
