The Vande Bharat Sleeper train has received an overwhelming response from passengers. All the tickets of this new premium train running between Kamakhya and Howrah were sold out within a few hours or 24 hours of the start of booking. According to the Railway Ministry, after the opening of ticket sales on January 19, seats of all classes were completely booked on the Passenger Reservation System and online platforms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had flagged off this train from Malda Town in West Bengal on January 17. This train will start its first commercial journey from Kamakhya on 22 January and from Howrah on 23 January.
What is Vande Bharat Sleeper and what are its features?
Vande Bharat Sleeper is a semi-high-speed, fully air-conditioned train. It has many features to make the premium overnight journey comfortable. This train comes with 16 coaches, which include AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier and First AC class. A total of 823 passengers can sit in it. The train has safety systems like KAVACH anti-collision technology and regenerative braking. There are also better sleeping berths for passengers, onboard information system, CCTV surveillance, bio-vacuum toilets and facilities for disabled persons. Its maximum speed is 160 kilometers per hour.
How will its journey be on the Howrah-Kamakhya route?
This train will complete the journey between Howrah to Kamakhya in approximately 14 hours, which is the fastest on this route. It will run six days a week. It will not run from Kamakhya on Wednesday and from Howrah on Thursday. It will stop at several major stations on the way like Malda Town, New Jalpaiguri, New Cooch Behar and New Alipurduar. This service will be especially beneficial for passengers traveling overnight between West Bengal and Assam.
What is the fare of Vande Bharat Sleeper?
Vande Bharat Sleeper train fare between Howrah and Kamakhya varies according to class. This fare is quoted without GST:
Class Fare (Approx) AC 3-Tier ₹2,435 AC 2-Tier ₹3,145 First AC ₹3,855
Why are passengers liking this train so much?
Railway officials say that this train is getting such a good response because passengers are now preferring such modern trains which take less time, have better safety and provide comfortable travel. Vande Bharat Sleeper will also improve connectivity between Eastern India and the Northeast. The filling of so many seats on its maiden journey shows how much demand there is for upgraded train services for long distance travel.
Last Updated: 22 January 2026
