As per a Railway Board circular dated January 9, the new sleeper version of the Vande Bharat will only issue confirmed tickets. There will be no options for RAC, waitlisted, or partially confirmed tickets. All available berths will be accessible for booking right from the commencement of the advance reservation period.
Minimum fare for 400 km
Ticket prices for the Vande Bharat Sleeper will be slightly higher than those of premium trains like the Rajdhani Express. Passengers will need to pay a minimum fare for 400 km, regardless of whether they travel a shorter distance.
The fare per kilometre has been set at:
- ₹2.4 per km for 3AC
- ₹3.1 per km for 2AC
- ₹3.8 per km for First AC
This results in the following minimum fares:
- ₹960 for 3AC
- ₹1,240 for 2AC
- ₹1,520 for First AC
(GST will be applied separately)
Howrah–Guwahati route fares
For the Howrah–Guwahati route (approximately 1,000 km), fares will be:
- ₹2,400 (3AC)
- ₹3,100 (2AC)
- ₹3,800 (First AC)
For longer journeys of 2,000 km, the fares increase to:
- ₹4,800 (3AC)
- ₹6,200 (2AC)
- ₹7,600 (First AC)
These fares surpass those of existing premium trains. For comparison, the Rajdhani Express charges about ₹2.14 per km for 3AC, ₹2.91 for 2AC, and ₹3.60 for First AC. On the Howrah–Guwahati route, the Saraighat Express currently charges ₹1,410 (3AC), ₹1,985 (2AC), and ₹3,320 (First AC).
No RAC, but other quotas remain
Though RAC is not available, the Vande Bharat Sleeper will maintain quotas for women, senior citizens, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), and duty pass holders, similar to other long-distance trains.
Faster overnight travel
The inaugural Vande Bharat Sleeper train will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Howrah–Guwahati route. The service is anticipated to reduce travel time by approximately three hours compared to existing express trains.
The overnight service will make 10 stops across seven districts in West Bengal — Howrah, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, Murshidabad, Malda, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar — and two districts in Assam — Kamrup Metropolitan and Bongaigaon.
Train features and speed
The train will feature 16 coaches, including:
While the train can operate at speeds of up to 180 kmph, it will run at a maximum speed of 130 kmph for safety considerations. In comparison, Rajdhani Express trains travel at an average speed of 80–90 kmph.
Key features include ergonomically designed berths, enhanced cushioning, automatic doors, quieter coaches, superior suspension, and improved ride comfort. The train is equipped with the Kavach automatic train protection system, an emergency talk-back system, advanced driver controls, and upgraded sanitation technology.
