Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train from Howrah to Guwahati in West Bengal’s Malda. He also virtually flagged off a second Vande Bharat Sleeper service, running from Guwahati’s Kamakhya Junction to Howrah.
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This marks the beginning of a new era of sleeper train travel in Indian Railways, setting a higher benchmark for luxurious, comfortable and safe travel–a reputation Rajdhani Express trains have been enjoying for decades after their launch in 1969. Interestingly, both trains took off from Howrah.
Officials said that the semi-high-speed train will reduce the travel time by around 2.5 hours on the Howrah-Guwahati (Kamakhya) route.
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Modi also laid the foundation stone of four railway projects in West Bengal, including the new rail line between Balurghat and Hili, freight maintenance facilities at New Jalpaiguri, upgradation of the Siliguri Loco Shed, and modernisation of Vande Bharat train maintenance facilities in Jalpaiguri district.
VIDEO | Malda, West Bengal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) flags off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya) from Malda Town Railway Station, marking a major boost to long-distance rail connectivity.#WestBengal #VandeBharat… pic.twitter.com/vFWiRR956r
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 17, 2026
He also virtually flagged off four New Amrit Bharat Express trains for the movement of workers between New Jalpaiguri-Nagercoil, New Jalpaiguri-Tiruchirappalli, Alipurduar– SMVT Bengaluru and Alipurduar–Mumbai (Panvel).
The passengers will be charged at a rate of Rs 2.4 per km for third AC, Rs 3.1 per km for second AC and Rs 3.8 per km for first AC in Vande Bharat Sleeper trains. So, the minimum fare of a Vande Bharat sleeper train, which is up to 400 km distance, will be Rs 960 for third AC, Rs 1,240 for second AC and Rs 1,520 for first AC. Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be levied separately.
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A third-AC journey on the 958 km Howrah and Guwahati route of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express will cost Rs 2,299. Further, a passenger would have to shell out Rs 2,970 for second AC and Rs 3,640 for first AC.
The train is built with the automatic train protection system– Kavach—and an emergency talk-back system. It has disinfectant technology to maintain sanitation, a driver cab with advanced controls and aerodynamic exterior, and automatic exterior passenger doors.
Other amenities include showers with hot water in first AC, a GPS-based LED display and announcement, sensor-based inter-communication doors, a modular pantry service and line space in coaches.
It will have 10 stops across seven districts of West Bengal—Howrah, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, Murshidabad, Malda, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar—and Kamrup metropolitan and Bongaigaon in Assam. These will be overnight journeys, commencing late evening and culminating in the morning. The train will have 16 coaches, including 11 third AC, four second AC and one AC.
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