According to a Railway Board circular issued on January 9, only fully confirmed tickets will be issued for the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express. There will be no provision for RAC, waitlisted, or partially confirmed tickets under any circumstances.
“Minimum chargeable distance shall be 400 km. Only confirmed tickets shall be issued for this train,” the circular stated. All available berths will be opened for booking from the first day of the Advance Reservation Period.
In conventional long-distance trains, RAC allows two passengers to share a side lower berth if tickets are not fully confirmed. The removal of this facility signals a clear positioning of the Vande Bharat Sleeper as a fully premium service.
Fare Structure and Minimum Charges
The fare has been fixed on a flat per-kilometre basis. Passengers will be charged Rs 2.4 per km for 3AC, Rs 3.1 per km for 2AC, and Rs 3.8 per km for First AC. Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be levied separately.
This translates into a minimum fare of Rs 960 for 3AC, Rs 1,240 for 2AC, and Rs 1,520 for First AC for journeys up to 400 km. For the 1,000-km Howrah–Guwahati route, fares will be Rs 2,400, Rs 3,100, and Rs 3,800 respectively.
For longer distances of 2,000 km, fares rise to Rs 4,800 for 3AC, Rs 6,200 for 2AC, and Rs 7,600 for First AC, reinforcing the train’s premium positioning.
Comparison with Existing Premium Trains
The notified fares are marginally higher than those of existing premium services such as the Rajdhani Express. For instance, Rajdhani trains typically charge around Rs 2.1 per km for 3AC, Rs 2.85 for 2AC, and Rs 3.5 for First AC.
On the Howrah–Guwahati corridor, the highest fares on existing trains like the Saraighat Express stand significantly lower than the Vande Bharat Sleeper. Railway officials argue that higher fares are justified due to faster travel, improved comfort, and modern safety systems.
Route, Stops and Train Composition
The inaugural Vande Bharat Sleeper Express will operate as an overnight service with late-evening departures and morning arrivals. The train will halt at 10 stations across West Bengal and Assam, including Howrah, Malda, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Kamrup Metropolitan, and Bongaigaon.
The rake will consist of 16 coaches 11 3AC coaches, four 2AC coaches, and one First AC coach. Like other long-distance trains, it will include reserved quotas for women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and railway staff.
Speed, Safety and Passenger Comfort
Although the train is technically capable of speeds up to 180 kmph, it will operate at a maximum of 130 kmph due to existing track and safety considerations. This is still significantly faster than the average speed of Rajdhani Express trains, which typically range between 80 and 90 kmph.
Passenger amenities include ergonomically designed berths, enhanced cushioning, automatic sliding doors, vestibule connections, reduced noise levels, and superior suspension systems. The train is also equipped with the Kavach automatic train protection system and an emergency talk-back feature.
Indian Railways has positioned the Vande Bharat Sleeper as a new benchmark for overnight rail travel, aiming to combine speed, safety, and comfort.