India to Get First Vande Bharat Sleeper Train in January
New Delhi, 01st January 2026: Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday announced that the nation’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train will operate between Guwahati in Assam and Howrah in West Bengal. The announcement was made at a meeting held at Rail Bhawan in New Delhi on New Year’s Day.
The minister said that the complete trial, testing, and certification of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train have been successfully completed. The train is scheduled to be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January. According to the minister, the year 2026 will see the rollout of several passenger-focused reforms in Indian Railways.
The Vande Bharat Sleeper Train will benefit districts including Kamrup Metropolitan and Bongaigaon in Assam, and Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Maldah, Murshidabad, Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, and Howrah in West Bengal.
The train will have 16 coaches with a total passenger capacity of approximately 823. The rake composition includes 11 three-tier AC coaches, four two-tier AC coaches, and one first-class AC coach.
Indian Railways has developed a newly designed bogie with an upgraded suspension system for the sleeper variant. The interiors and ladders have been ergonomically designed, with specific safety and security parameters incorporated across the train.
The sleeper service is planned for overnight travel, with the timetable designed to allow departure from the origin station in the evening and arrival at the destination early the next morning.
Catering services on board will include region-specific cuisine. Trains originating from Guwahati will offer Assamese dishes, while services starting from Howrah will serve Bengali cuisine.
Key features of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train include a design speed of up to 180 kmph, ergonomically designed berths with improved cushioning, automatic doors with vestibules, enhanced ride comfort through improved suspension and noise reduction, and integration with the KAVACH train protection system. Additional features include CCTV cameras in all coaches, emergency talk-back units, aerosol-based fire detection and suppression systems, disinfectant-based sanitation technology, special arrangements for Divyangjan passengers, and advanced driver cab controls with safety systems.
The Vande Bharat Sleeper Train is the first sleeper variant under the Vande Bharat platform and is intended to provide a modern overnight travel option on long-distance routes.
