Guwahati-Kolkata Vande Bharat Train: Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday announced that the testing and certification of the Vande Bharat sleeper train have been successfully completed. He said the first Vande Bharat sleeper service will run on the Guwahati-Kolkata route and will be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the coming days.

Highlighting the significance, Vaishnaw said that the new sleeper train will offer world-class facilities, enhanced safety, and a modern travel experience for passengers.

"The complete testing and certification of the Vande Bharat sleeper train has been completed. Its first route is proposed to be Guwahati–Kolkata. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first Vande Bharat sleeper train on this route in the coming days. This achievement is a major milestone...The Vande Bharat sleeper train will provide passengers with world-class facilities, safety, and a modern travel experience on long-distance overnight journeys," Vaishnaw said.

On Wednesday, the minister had shared the successful test video of the Vande Bharat sleeper train on social media platform X. Vaishnaw posted a clip showing the Vande Bharat Sleeper train running at high speed and demonstrating its stability. The clip captured the train’s speed increasing from 178 km/h to 180 km/h within seconds.

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All About Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains

According to the Railway Ministry’s year-end review, these trains are set to revolutionise long-distance rail travel. Initially deployed on busy routes, they will eventually be rolled out across the network, significantly cutting down travel times.

The Vande Bharat Sleeper trains are built by BEML Limited using technology from the Integral Coach Factory (ICF). The trains feature 16 coaches, which include AC First Class, AC 2-Tier, and AC 3-Tier configurations, accommodating up to 1,128 passengers. With a top speed of 180 km/h, the Vande Bharat Sleeper ranks among the fastest overnight trains in India.

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Currently, Indian Railways operates semi-high-speed Vande Bharat trains with a design speed of 180 km/h and a maximum operating speed of 160 km/h. The Vande Bharat Sleeper aims to combine the comfort of the Rajdhani Express with modern, advanced technology. With its 16 state-of-the-art coaches, it is set to transform the experience of overnight rail travel.