What Vande Bharat sleeper means for Siliguri–Northeast rail connectivity

Vande Bharat Sleeper Train

• Vande Bharat Sleeper Train to run between Guwahati and Howrah from January
• Train offers overnight travel, comfort, and Assamese/Bengali cuisine
• Service to benefit multiple districts in Assam and West Bengal

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Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, earlier this wee,k announced that the first-ever Vande Bharat Sleeper Train will run between Guwahati in Assam and Howrah in West Bengal.

Vaishnaw said that trial runs, testing and certification of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train have been completed, and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the inaugural service in January. Calling it a major milestone, the minister said the launch marks an important step forward for Indian Railways, passengers and the country.

The new sleeper Vande Bharat is expected to benefit multiple districts across Assam and West Bengal. In Assam, the train will serve Kamrup Metropolitan and Bongaigaon, while in West Bengal it will cover Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Maldah, Murshidabad, Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly and Howrah.

The 16-coach train will include 11 AC three-tier coaches, four AC two-tier coaches and one first-class AC coach, with a total passenger capacity of around 823.  The 16-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper rake used in the trial has been designed to cater to long-distance passenger travel and is equipped with state-of-the-art passenger amenities. These include comfortable sleeper berths, advanced suspension systems, automatic doors, modern toilets, fire detection and safety monitoring systems, CCTV-based surveillance, digital passenger information systems, and energy-efficient technologies.

Placing the development in a broader context, Sandip Ghose, a current affairs commentator, said, “Historically, Kolkata used to be the natural gateway for North Bengal and North East. Over time it changed with better connections to Delhi. The Rajdhani Express to and from Guwahati and subsequently better air connections made Delhi more accessible. In recent years, Siliguri has emerged as a commercial centre. But air-connections to Kolkata remain limited, and in the absence of Expressways the road journey to Kolkata from North Bengal and Eastern Assam remains arduous. Though a small beginning, the introduction of the sleeper Vande Bharat sleeper  will surely improve connectivity and help revive old links. But the move is more symbolic and dovetails with Narendra Modi’s look-east vision – in which Viksit West Bengal and Viksit North East are important elements. The sleeper Vande Bharat signals that and will no doubt feature in his West Bengal and Assam outreach in the coming months preceding the assembly elections in April-May.”

The Vande Bharat sleeper train is designed for overnight travel, offering enhanced comfort, safety and a premium passenger experience. Its timetable will be structured so that the train departs in the evening and reaches its destination early the next morning, making it convenient for long-distance travellers.

Adding a regional touch, passengers will also be served local cuisines on board. Trains originating from Guwahati will offer Assamese dishes, while services starting from Kolkata will feature traditional Bengali cuisine, aiming to provide a culturally rich travel experience along with faster connectivity.