Dispur: The semi-high-speed express train, Vande Bharat, has made its next step with the first commercial run of its sleeper version – a fully air-conditioned, overnight service between Kamakhya in Assam and Howrah in West Bengal.
Regular operations on the first sleeper-class Vande Bharat train in India began on January 22, 2026, when the Kamakhya – Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper Express (Train No. 27576) left Kamakhya Railway Station. The return service started from Howrah on January 23, 2026, (Train No. 27575) and operates six days per week except Thursday.
The inaugural commercial operation tickets were sold out in hours of their opening, indicating the high demand of the passengers on the exclusive overnight service that linked the northeast with eastern India.
On January 17, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the sleeper Vande Bharat at Malda Town before its commercial launch. It belongs to the initiative of Indian Railways to improve long-distance rail transport based on faster and more comfortable overnight trains, when it comes to routes that go beyond the daytime trains.
The train takes approximately 14 hours to complete the 968 -km distance at high speeds with a variety of AC classes (First AC, AC 2-tier, AC 3-tier) and other high-tech facilities (automatic doors, CCTV, on-board food with regional cuisine, and advanced safety systems).
Customers in the inaugural commercial trip were content with the quality of bedrolls, food services, and comfort, whereas rail management emphasized how the sleeper version would increase high-end connectivity through rail in India.
