PM Modi to Flag Off India’s First Vande Bharat Sleeper on Guwahati-Kolkata Route
PM Modi to Flag Off India’s First Vande Bharat Sleeper on Guwahati-Kolkata Route
PM Modi to Flag Off India’s First Vande Bharat Sleeper on Guwahati-Kolkata Route
India gears up for the first Vande Bharat Sleeper train, linking Guwahati with Howrah. With 823 seats and key stops, the service aims to reshape northeast–west rail travel.
This month, PM Modi will introduce the first Vande Bharat Sleeper train in India. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters on Thursday, January 1, 2026, that the first train will be released within the next 17–18 days. The nation's long-distance train routes are about to undergo a radical change thanks to this new train.
Guwahati and Kolkata will be connected by the first Vande Bharat Sleeper train. This will improve the connectivity between West Bengal and northeastern India. Kamrup Metropolitan and Bongaigaon in Assam and Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Maldah, Murshidabad, Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, and Howrah in West Bengal are among the districts that benefit from the Howrah-Guwahati-Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper train.
The Vande Bharat Sleeper train will make stops at important stations, including Bandel, Katha, Malda, New Farakka, New Jalpaiguri, New Coochbehar, and New Bongaigaon, along its route from Guwahati to Kolkata. With a total capacity of about 823 passengers, the Howrah-Guwahati Vande Bharat Sleeper train will have 16 coaches, including 11 three-tier AC coaches, 4 two-tier AC coaches, and 1 first-class AC coach.
Vaishnaw informed the media that a brand-new bogie with a new suspension had been created. "A new level of design parameters has been achieved. Its ladders and interiors are ergonomically designed, and unique safety and security measures are incorporated throughout," he stated.
He went on to say that the next version of Vande Bharat will provide an excellent, safe, and comfortable overnight travel experience.
The goal of these features is to improve ride comfort, along with better suspension and noise reduction. To maintain high standards of sanitation, the coaches and contemporary restrooms are furnished with disinfectant technology. The lighting and spacious interiors are designed to enhance passenger comfort. For added safety, it will have an emergency talk-back system and a Kavach anti-collision system. Its automated exterior passenger doors and aerodynamic exterior design are further draws.
