Howrah–Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper: The country’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train is all set to begin operations next week, around January 17–18, 2026. The overnight service will operate between Howrah Junction in West Bengal and Kamakhya in Guwahati, Assam, and modern comfort and fast connectivity will be available to the passengers who travel between eastern and northeastern India. The inauguration is likely to be done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which will be a huge improvement for the overnight train travel in one of the busiest rail lines in India.
Howrah–Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper
Traditionally, Vande Bharat services have been known for semi-high-speed daytime journeys with chair-car seating. This new Vande Bharat Sleeper Express breaks that mold with a fully-air-conditioned overnight configuration, a first in the Indian Railways fleet. Designed especially for long-distance travel, this sleeper version blends the high standards of Vande Bharat comfort with the practicality of overnight berths.
New Vande Bharat Trains Announced: Full Route Map, Timings, Stops and Maximum Speed
Route and Frequency
The sleeper service will be available for six days a week. At 18:20 (except Thursday), train 27575 will depart from Howrah Junction every evening, while at 18:15 (except Wednesday), train 27576 will be coming from Kamakhya. The whole trip lasts for about 14 hours and during which the train crosses almost 1,000 km of mixed landscape in West Bengal and Assam.
The entire journey is made up of a series of important stops:
- Howrah Junction (West Bengal)
- Bandel Junction
- Nabadwip Dham
- Katwa Junction
- Azimganj
- New Farakka Junction
- Malda Town
- Aluabari Road
- New Jalpaiguri
- Jalpaiguri Road
- New Cooch Behar
- New Alipurduar
- New Bongaigaon
- Rangiya Junction
- Kamakhya (Assam)
Departure and Arrival Timings
The planned departure from Howrah is set for 18:20 hrs, with the arrival at Kamakhya slated for around 08:20 hrs the following morning. The opposite direction train leaves Kamakhya at 18:15 hrs and reaches Howrah at 08:15 hrs, thus providing comfortable and convenient overnight travel for long-distance passengers.
Howrah–Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper: Coach Composition and On-Board Comfort
In contrast to the traditional Vande Bharat trains that have chair seating, the one with sleeping facilities has 16 air-conditioned coaches, which include:
- 11 AC 3-tier coaches
- 4 AC 2-tier coaches
- 1 AC First Class coach
This arrangement can accommodate more than 800 passengers, thus providing a good combination of price and comfort for different types of travelers. Among the amenities are new suspension, enhanced padding, state-of-the-art security, and automatic doors, plus comfortable sleeper berths.
Fare Structure
The railway authorities have set up a fare structure that aims at the middle class, while still making it affordable for travelers. The ticket rates which cover travel and the basic services are likely to be as follows:
- AC 3-tier: About ₹2,300
- AC 2-tier: About ₹3,000
- AC First Class: About ₹3,600
The Vande Bharat Sleeper is not only fast but also offers an attractive mix of comfort and price with overnight travel, especially in comparison to the air tickets on the same route (which are usually around ₹6,000 to ₹8,000).
