Indian Railways is preparing to introduce the Vande Bharat Sleeper train on important routes, including the busy corridor between New Delhi and Howrah. This will be the third premium train service on this route, following the Rajdhani Express and the Duronto Express. The new train, developed by BEML using technology from the Integral Coach Factory, was unveiled by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in September 2024.
Travel Time and Speed
The Vande Bharat Sleeper will cover the 1449 km stretch between Delhi and Howrah in less than 15 hours. Designed to operate at a top speed of 160 kmph, it is set to become the fastest train on this route, surpassing both Rajdhani and Duronto in terms of speed.
Key Stoppages
During its journey, the train will stop at major stations such as Kanpur Central, Prayagraj Junction, DD Upadhyaya Junction, Gaya Junction, Dhanbad Junction, and Asansol Junction.
Coach Composition and Fare
The train will have 16 coaches, consisting of:
- 11 AC 3-tier coaches
- 4 AC 2-tier coaches
- 1 First Class AC coach
Expected ticket prices are:
- Rs 3000 for AC 3-tier
- Rs 4000 for AC 2-tier
- Rs 5100 for First Class AC
Timings and Schedule
The Vande Bharat Sleeper is expected to depart from New Delhi at 17:00 hrs and arrive in Howrah at 08:00 hrs the next morning. For the return trip, it will leave Howrah at 17:00 hrs and reach New Delhi by 08:00 hrs the following day.
