Vande Bharat Sleeper Train will be launched soon! In a big New Year’s celebration Indian Railways Passengers Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishaw informed that the first Vande Bharat sleeper train will be launched this month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the Vande Bharat sleeper train in the second half of January 2026.The Vande Bharat sleeper is a fully air-conditioned train manufactured by Indian Railways for long-distance and night travel. Accordingly Ashwini VaishnawTwo Vande Bharat sleeper trains are ready and have completed successful test runs. The new trains will be used on the national transport company’s routes at speeds of 1,200 to 1,500 km/h.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Route Announced
The first Vande Bharat sleeper train will run between Guwahati and Kolkata, Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Thursday. Each Vande Bharat sleeper train has 16 coaches. The composition of the trainers is: 11 AC 3-level trainers, 4 AC 2-level trainers and one AC 1st trainer. The train can accommodate 823 passengers. Vaishnaw said eight more Vande Bharat sleeper trains will be introduced in the next six months and the total number will go up to 12 by the end of the year.Ashwini Vaishnaw recently shared a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, showing the train undergoing high-speed trials on the Indian Railways network.During test runs on the Kota-Nagda route, the Vande Bharat sleeper train reached its maximum speed of 180 km/h. A notable highlight of the trial was a stability demonstration in which glasses filled with water remained perfectly balanced even at speeds of over 180 km/h without any water spilling.“The Vande Bharat Sleeper was tested by the Commissioner Railway Safety today. It ran at 180 kmph between Kota Nagda section. And our own water test demonstrated the technological features of this new generation train,” wrote Ashwini Vaishnaw in his post on X.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Fares
According to Indian Railways, fares for the Vande Bharat sleeper train start from Rs 2,300 for a one-way journey between Guwahati and Kolkata.
- Vande Bharat Sleeper AC 3 Tier Tariff: Rs 2,300
- Vande Bharat Sleeper AC 2 Tier Tariff: Rs 3,000
- Vande Bharat Sleeper AC 1. Tariff: Rs 3,600
Features of Vande Bharat Sleeper Train
Designed for overnight and long-distance travel, the Vande Bharat sleeper train is the sleeper counterpart of the Vande Bharat chair car services that already operate across the country. Currently, two prototype batches of the Vande Bharat sleeper train have been manufactured by BEML. Indian Railways is also gearing up for a broader transformation of long-distance transport and plans to launch more than 200 such sleeper trains in the coming years, supported by several ongoing manufacturing initiatives.
- The Vande Bharat sleeper is designed for semi-high speed use and is capable of speeds of up to 160 km/h. Test drives have already been carried out at 180 km/h. Actual speeds vary across the rail network depending on track infrastructure.
- Inspired by European train design standards, Vande Bharat’s sleeper coaches will feature padded berths for added comfort as well as better access to the upper berths to make it easier for rail passengers to move around.
- Onboard facilities include soft night lighting, public address systems with integrated visual information displays, CCTV cameras and modular galley units.
- The train will be equipped with advanced bio-vacuum toilets, similar to those used on aircraft. Amenities include disabled-accessible toilets, a baby care area and hot shower facilities in the air-conditioned first class carriage.
- Safety improvements include the indigenous KAVACH anti-collision system. Like the existing chair car variant, the sleeper car version will also use regenerative braking to improve energy efficiency.
- The coaches feature fully sealed aisles and automated doors between carriages to maintain consistent air quality and stable cabin temperatures.
- Each coach will be equipped with personal reading lights, charging stations, folding snack tables and fiberglass panel interiors. The train doors open automatically at certain stations.
- There is a centralized bus monitoring system as well as emergency communication features that allow passengers to contact the train driver directly if necessary.
BEML is producing 10 Vande Bharat sleeper trains in association with Integral Coach Factory. Another batch of 10 sleeper rakes will be built by Kinet, a joint venture with Indian and Russian companies. Additionally, a consortium led by Titagarh Rail Systems and BHEL has secured a contract to manufacture 80 sleeper class trains. Separately, Integral Coach Factory is also developing its own sleeper configuration of the Vande Bharat train as an internal project.
