India's First Vande Bharat Sleeper Train: Check Launch Date And Route
Passengers across India are eagerly awaiting the launch of the India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, a premium train that promises greater comfort than the Rajdhani Express and higher speeds, significantly reducing travel time.
Indian Railways has already started preparations, and unlike the initial Vande Bharat prototypes, this will be a newly built train with an updated design.
The Vande Bharat Express has already won hearts nationwide, prompting the Ministry of Railways to expand its fleet rapidly. Currently, 75 Vande Bharat trains, offering 150 services, operate across the country, but all are chair-car configurations, which can be uncomfortable for long-distance journeys. The upcoming Sleeper Vande Bharat aims to fill this gap.
Although the prototype was built and trialled earlier, deficiencies were identified during testing. Keeping passenger convenience in mind, the design has been refined, and the new train is now almost ready to roll out.
According to the Railway Ministry, the Sleeper Vande Bharat will be introduced before the Bihar Assembly elections. With elections expected in November, the train could be operational by October. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has also emphasised expediting the launch.
While the first service is planned for either the Delhi–Mumbai or Delhi–Kolkata route, strong indications suggest it will run between Delhi and Howrah to connect Bihar in time for the elections.
At present, all 75 Vande Bharat trains are chair-car models, which require passengers to remain seated for the entire journey. For long-distance routes, this can be inconvenient, and the Sleeper Vande Bharat will address that by offering overnight travel in greater comfort.
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