Vande Bharat Sleeper Train: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train (Kamakhya Junction–Howrah Junction route) from Malda in West Bengal today.
PM Modi will also launch seven additional high-speed services, including the Amrit Bharat Express. These launches promise luxury overnight travel, economic upliftment across regions and faster connectivity.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Train-Vande Bharat Sleeper Train
The Vande Bharat Sleeper train stands out with its out-of-the-box 16-coach configuration. The train can accommodate as much as 823 passengers in AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier and AC First Class setups. The key highlights include touch-free bio-vacuum toilets, sensor-activated automatic doors and interconnecting gangways for seamless movements to ensure a dust-free, hygienic ride.
Advanced safety features of this sleeper train include the Kavach anti-collision system, crash-worthy couplers and emergency talk-back units prioritize passenger security. It is packed with redesigned ladders, USB ports, on-board Wi-Fi and individual reading lights to provide hotel-like comfort at speeds up to 160-180 km/h.
Today, PM Modi would launch one Vande Bharat Sleeper and six others (four Amrit Bharat Express and two regular Express trains), all flagged off or virtually launched from Malda Town.
Vande Bharat Sleeper (Howrah–Guwahati/Kamakhya) would be a bi-directional service between Howrah (Kolkata) and Kamakhya (Guwahati), which will travel time by approximately 2.5 hours on this long-distance overnight route.
Four Amrit Bharat Express trains
The four Amrit Bharat Express Trains include:
- New Jalpaiguri–Nagercoil
- New Jalpaiguri–Tiruchirappalli
- Alipurduar–SMVT Bengaluru
- Alipurduar–Mumbai (Panvel)
The two new Express trains (LHB coaches) would be Radhikapur–SMVT Bengaluru and Balurghat–SMVT Bengaluru.
All these routes target the traders, youth and migrants of West Bengal, linking to IT hubs such as Bengaluru for enhanced regional economic prosperity and development.
The fares of the train are as follows: AC 3-tier at ₹1,200-₹2,000, AC 2-tier ₹1,800-₹3,000, and First AC ₹4,000+ for Sleeper; Amrit Bharat at ₹800-₹1,500 in sleeper class. Travellers can check the IRCTC website or app to find the train arrival and departure timings.
Impact on Regional Development and Prosperity
These trains would supercharge regional economies especially that of West Bengal, by slashing travel times. This would also help foster trade between industrial hubs like Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. Faster links to business centres and airports would attract investments while also creating jobs in tourism, hospitality, and logistics, potentially adding billions to local GDPs.
