Vande Bharat Sleeper: Cheaper than Flight, Hotel-like Comfort, Only Ticket Holders Allowed

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train from Malda Town Railway Station, West Bengal.
• The train operates on the Howrah-Guwahati (Kamakhya) route, aiming to modernize Indian Railways and reduce travel time by 2.5 hours.
• It features 16 fully air-conditioned coaches (11 Three-Tier AC, 4 Two-Tier AC, 1 First Class AC) with a capacity of 823 passengers.
• Equipped with Kavach system and emergency talk-back, it offers comfortable berths, automatic doors, and a low-noise journey.
• Fares are significantly lower than flights for similar distances, with local food options (Assamese/Bengali cuisine) and strict entry for confirmed ticket holders only.

Why It Matters: India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper offers affordable, comfortable, and modern long-distance rail travel with strict ticket-only access.