Revolutionizing Rail Travel: Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains to Launch Between Guwahati and Kolkata

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The Indian Railways is set to launch a new Vande Bharat sleeper train service between Guwahati and Kolkata, with fares significantly lower than air travel. According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the train's 3-AC fare will be around ₹2,300, 2-AC around ₹3,000, and 1-AC around ₹3,600, which includes food. This affordable option is aimed at catering to the middle class. The train, which will begin operations in the next 15-20 days, has a capacity of 823 passengers and a design speed of 180 km/h. However, it will operate at a speed of 120-130 kmph between the two cities. To put this into perspective, air travel between Guwahati and Kolkata typically costs around ₹6,000 to ₹8,000. The Vande Bharat train features advanced amenities such as ergonomically-designed berths, automatic doors, and disinfectant technology to maintain high sanitation standards. The disinfectant technology can kill 99.9% of germs and will be used in both the sleeper and chair-car versions of the train. Production of the Vande Bharat trains is being ramped up, with eight more trains expected to be ready for operation in six months. By the end of this year, 12 trains will be ready, and production will increase rapidly from next year onwards. The train's catering facilities will offer regional cuisine, with Assamese food served on trains originating from Guwahati and Bengali food served on trains starting from Kolkata. The launch of this service is a major milestone for Indian Railways, and is expected to revolutionize rail travel between Guwahati and Kolkata.