As per a Railway Board circular dated January 9, the sleeper variant of the Vande Bharat will only offer confirmed tickets. No RAC, waitlisted, or partly confirmed tickets will be available. All open berths will be accessible for booking from the onset of the advance reservation window.
Minimum fare for 400 km
Ticket prices for the Vande Bharat Sleeper will be marginally higher than those of premium trains like the Rajdhani Express. Passengers will incur a minimum fare equivalent to 400 km, regardless of traveling a shorter distance.
The per-kilometre fare 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 a minimum fare of:
- ₹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 in length, fares will be:
- ₹2,400 (3AC)
- ₹3,100 (2AC)
- ₹3,800 (First AC)
For journeys of 2,000 km, fares increase to:
- ₹4,800 (3AC)
- ₹6,200 (2AC)
- ₹7,600 (First AC)
These prices exceed those of current premium trains. For reference, the Rajdhani Express charges around ₹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
Although RAC is not permitted, the Vande Bharat Sleeper will maintain quotas for women, senior citizens, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), and duty pass holders, akin 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. This service is anticipated to reduce travel time by approximately three hours compared to existing express trains.
The overnight train will halt at 10 stations across seven districts in West Bengal — Howrah, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, Murshidabad, Malda, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar — along with two districts in Assam — Kamrup Metropolitan and Bongaigaon.
Train features and speed
The train will comprise 16 coaches, including:
While the train is capable of reaching speeds of 180 kmph, it will operate at a maximum speed of 130 kmph for safety. In contrast, Rajdhani Express trains generally run at speeds 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 fitted with the Kavach automatic train protection system, an emergency talk-back feature, advanced driver controls, and upgraded sanitation technology.
