Indian Railways is gearing up to launch the first-ever sleeper variant of the Vande Bharat Express. The Indian Railways aims to ensure comfortable travel for passengers between the cities of Patna and Delhi in just 8 hours. The train will be covering a stretch of 1000 kilometres with a top speed of 160 km/hr.
When will it launch?
According to Times Now, the inaugural service is anticipated to begin before the New Year. The first rake of the train is scheduled for dispatch on December 12, 2025. The trial runs are expected to kick off shortly after the rake arrives from Bharat Earth Movers Factory. Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Railway Minister, assured the indigenous design of the train in the sleeper variant, emphasising its importance for long- and medium-distance travel around the country.
Also Read| Umar Khalid gets interim bail to attend sister’s wedding
Patna-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express’s amenities
The sleeper variant of the Vande Bharat Express will consist of 16 coaches, specifically designed for long-distance travel. The sleeper variant does not have chair car coaches like the previous versions; instead, it incorporates sleeper berths for the comfort of passengers who are travelling over long distances. The train would include modern amenities such as auto-sensing doors, bio-digester toilets, and thoughtfully designed berths with soft lighting to improve comfort. Safety is also a key focus, with crashworthy coaches and an anti-collision system.
The Patna-Delhi sleeper Vande Bharat Express will be operating six days a week. The train has a total capacity of 826 passengers. The train will have three types of coaches: AC-1 tier, AC-2 tier, and AC-3 tier. The train is expected to have a dynamic pricing facility and is expected to have a ticket price that will be approximately the same as that of the Rajdhani Express. The train’s service will be highly valued on this route, as it would emerge as a new option for the passengers who find it hard to get confirmed tickets during festivals, travel, work commitments, or a brief visit to the capital city.
