Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Thursday that the first-ever Vande Bharat sleeper train will operate between Guwahati in Assam and Howrah in West Bengal.

He stated that the complete trial, testing, and certification of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train have been completed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train on this route this month.

The Minister said that this development represents a significant milestone for Indian Railways, the nation, and its rail passengers. He also mentioned that 2026 will be a year of major reforms for Indian Railways, with several passenger-centric initiatives set to be introduced.The districts that will benefit from the launch of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train include Kamrup Metropolitan and Bongaigaon in Assam and Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Maldah, Murshidabad, Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, and Howrah in West Bengal.