Passengers boarding India's inaugural Vande Bharat Sleeper train service will be treated to a premium travel experience, complete with high-quality linen items. The train, set to run between Howrah in Kolkata and Guwahati, is scheduled for its grand inauguration in the second week of January.
Premium Amenities for Enhanced Comfort
In a significant upgrade aimed at passenger comfort, the Railway Board has directed the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) to arrange sufficient quantities of premium mill-made linen for all classes. This move underscores the train's status as a fully air-conditioned premium service. The directive was issued considering the service's upscale nature, with the goal of ensuring an enhanced travel experience throughout the journey.
The standard linen kit provided to each passenger will be comprehensive. It will include a bed sheet, a pillow cushion with a cover, a wool-rich premium blanket along with a blanket cover, and a hand towel. This initiative marks a focus on delivering hotel-like amenities onboard a semi-high-speed rail service.
Train Specifications and Operational Details
This landmark service will be operated and maintained under the jurisdiction of the Northeast Frontier Railway. The train will ply between Kamakhya (near Guwahati) and Howrah, significantly cutting travel time by approximately three hours.
The train's rake will consist of 16 coaches with a total passenger capacity of about 823 individuals. The coach composition includes one First AC (1A) coach, four Second AC (2A) coaches, and eleven Third AC (3A) coaches. Every coach will be fully air-conditioned and equipped with modern passenger amenities, setting a new benchmark for overnight rail travel in the region.
A New Era in Rail Travel
The introduction of the Vande Bharat Sleeper variant represents a major leap forward for Indian Railways, combining higher speeds with overnight sleeper comfort. The focus on providing uniform, high-quality linen across all classes demonstrates a commitment to elevating the overall journey for every passenger, not just those in the most expensive cabins.
With its launch imminent, the Howrah-Guwahati Vande Bharat Sleeper is poised to become a preferred mode of transport, offering a faster, more comfortable, and premium alternative on this key route connecting West Bengal and Assam.
