New Delhi-Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper Express Approved
In a major boost to long-distance rail travel, Indian Railways has officially approved the proposal to launch a new Vande Bharat Sleeper Express service connecting New Delhi and Howrah. This decision was finalized during the Time Table Committee meeting held in Navi Mumbai between October 8 and October 10.
A Faster Alternative to Rajdhani Express
The upcoming high-speed sleeper service is designed to revolutionize travel between the national capital and West Bengal. Railway officials have indicated that the Vande Bharat Sleeper is expected to provide significantly faster transit times compared to the existing Rajdhani Express services on this route.
While the committee has given its approval, the final implementation of the service is currently awaiting authorization from the Railway Board.
Planned Route and Key Stops
The proposed route for this premium service will connect major urban hubs, ensuring better connectivity for passengers across several states. The train is expected to make scheduled stops at:
- Kanpur
- Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction (DDU)
- Gaya
- Dhanbad
- Asansol
State-of-the-Art 24-Coach Train Sets
The technical development of this service is already in full swing. Manufacturing of the 24-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper train sets is currently underway through a collaborative effort between the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai and BEML in Bengaluru.
These advanced train sets are packed with modern amenities to ensure a comfortable overnight journey, including:
- Automatic doors for enhanced safety and convenience.
- Full AC pantry cars to cater to passenger catering needs.
- High capacity with the ability to accommodate up to 1,224 passengers.
Other Major Railway Updates
Beyond the New Delhi-Howrah route, the Time Table Committee discussed several other significant developments:
Amrit Bharat Express Frequency: Plans are being considered to increase the frequency of the Howrah-Anand Vihar Amrit Bharat Express. The service, which currently runs once a week, may soon be upgraded to run twice or even thrice weekly.
Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Sleeper: Preparations are also progressing for a new Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Delhi and Varanasi. Trials for this service are expected to begin this October, with a projected official launch around the Diwali and Chhath festival period.