Train to run between Kolkata and Guwahati, covering nine districts of West Bengal and Assam
The first Vande Bharat sleeper train of India will run between Kolkata (Howrah) and Guwahati (Kamakhya), plying nine districts of West Bengal and Assam. Prime Minister (PM) will flag off the train later this month, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said. He also said that initial part of India’s first bullet train project- Mumbai- Ahmedabad High Speed Rail- from Surat to Bilimora in Gujarat will be ready by August 15, 2027 and the entire project is expected to be completed by December 2029. The train will cover total 10 stops across nine districts of Murshidabad, Howrah, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Hoogly, Purba, Malda and Bardhaman in West Bengal and Bongaigaon and Kamrup metropolitan in Assam.
The fares for 3rd AC, 2nd AC and 1st AC are Rs 2300, Rs 3000 and Rs 3600 respectively. The amount has been kept substantially lower than the flight. When the train will run from Assam to Bengal, it will have Assamese cuisine and when the train will start from West Bengal, Bengali cuisine would be served. A total of eight Vande Bharat sleeper trains will be rolled out within next sixth months and 12 will be ready by the end of the year, said Railway Minister. All the three systems are designed in India i.e. bogie, propulsion system and vehicle control, making it a made-in-India train. The train has a total capacity of 823 passengers, with 611 in 3AC, 188 in 2AC and 24 in 1AC. Though the train has a capacity of running at a speed of 180 kmph, but due to safety reasons it will travel up to 130 kmph. India also plans to export this once it achieves perfection by 2029.
