The first Vande Bharat Sleeper service runs between Howrah in West Bengal and Kamakhya in Assam, also described officially as the Howrah–Guwahati corridor. Train 27575 runs from Howrah to Kamakhya and train 27576 returns to Howrah. The launch-era schedule is an overnight journey of roughly 14 hours over approximately 966 kilometres, but you should confirm the exact date, operating day, stops, fare and berth availability in IRCTC before paying.
This guide explains the route, stations, timetable, classes, live-booking process, fare structure, waitlist policy and the checks to make before planning a connection.
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Which route does the Vande Bharat Sleeper serve?
The first commercial Vande Bharat Sleeper corridor links Howrah and Kamakhya. Official Ministry of Railways material also calls it the Howrah–Guwahati service because Kamakhya is the railhead serving the Guwahati area. It is not evidence that a sleeper version operates on every Vande Bharat route.
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The launch announcement said the first commercial departure was scheduled from Kamakhya on 22 January 2026 and from Howrah on 23 January 2026. First-day bookings opened on 19 January 2026. Those dates identify the launch, not a permanent booking rule for later journeys.
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Train numbers and directions
| Train | Direction | Origin | Destination |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27575 | Eastbound | Howrah | Kamakhya |
| 27576 | Westbound | Kamakhya | Howrah |
At launch, the pair was reported to operate six days a week: 27575 did not run on Thursday, while 27576 did not run on Wednesday. Railway operations can be revised, so treat those as launch-era information and check your selected date in IRCTC or current official railway information.
Vande Bharat Sleeper timetable and journey time
The detailed timetable available for the launch service shows an evening departure, overnight travel and a morning arrival.
| Train | Departure | Arrival | Listed journey time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27575 Howrah–Kamakhya | Howrah at 18:20 | Kamakhya at 08:20 the following day | About 14 hours |
| 27576 Kamakhya–Howrah | Kamakhya at 18:15 | Howrah at 08:15 the following day | About 14 hours |
The Ministry of Railways describes the corridor as approximately 966 kilometres with an expected journey of about 14 hours. The station-by-station listing used for the launch schedule is identified as sourced from IRCTC_DIRECT, but the listing itself warns that timings are indicative. Indian Express reported the same 15-station launch schedule. Confirm the live schedule for your date before arranging a connecting train, bus, hotel check-in or airport transfer.
Vande Bharat Sleeper stops
For train 27575, the listed intermediate stations between Howrah and Kamakhya are:
- Bandel
- Nabadwip Dham
- Katwa
- Azimganj
- New Farakka
- Malda Town
- Aluabari Road
- New Jalpaiguri
- Jalpaiguri Road
- New Cooch Behar
- New Alipurduar
- New Bongaigaon
- Rangiya
Counting Howrah and Kamakhya, this produces a 15-station itinerary in the launch-era listing. A stop can be added, removed or retimed in a later railway timetable; use the train-number search in IRCTC to verify boarding and destination stations for the date you intend to travel.
How to check availability and book a ticket on IRCTC
Availability, berth inventory and the amount payable are live booking data. The official e-ticket instructions support the following workflow:
- Sign in to IRCTC and open the train-search or ticket-booking page.
- Enter your actual journey station, destination station and travel date. Search Howrah and Kamakhya, or an intermediate station shown for your train, rather than assuming the train serves every nearby city.
- Select the e-ticket option and submit the search.
- Find train 27575 or 27576 in the results, checking the departure date and the arrival date shown for the overnight journey.
- Choose the available class: AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier or AC First Class.
- Review the displayed availability and fare for every passenger before entering payment details.
- Complete passenger information and payment. On success, IRCTC generates reservation details and an electronic reservation slip.
- Save the reservation details and check the final ticket for train number, boarding station, destination, date, class and passenger names.
No universal advance-booking window or future-date seat count is established here. Do not rely on a fixed number of days or a static fare from an old article; search the exact journey date and class in IRCTC.
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- Operating day: the launch pattern excluded Thursday for 27575 and Wednesday for 27576, but the current calendar may differ.
- Station: Howrah, Kamakhya and intermediate stations are not interchangeable with every station in Kolkata or Guwahati.
- Arrival date: both services arrive the next morning, so a departure late in the evening belongs to the following calendar day at destination.
- Class and berth status: choose the class whose live availability matches your needs; a waitlisted result is not a confirmed berth.
- Fare shown at checkout: use the amount displayed for your passenger mix and journey, not an indicative kilometre calculation.
How much does the Vande Bharat Sleeper cost?
A March 2026 Press Information Bureau summary of the Railway Minister’s Lok Sabha reply states a Vande Bharat Sleeper fare range of ₹2.40 to ₹3.80 per passenger-kilometre. It gives AC 3-tier a rate of ₹2.40 per passenger-kilometre before GST and an indicative ₹2,400 for a 1,000-kilometre journey in 3AC before GST.
| Published figure | Qualification |
|---|---|
| ₹2.40–₹3.80 per passenger-kilometre | Overall sleeper fare range stated in the March 2026 PIB summary of a Lok Sabha reply |
| ₹2.40 per passenger-kilometre | 3AC rate before GST |
| ₹2,400 for 1,000 km | Indicative 3AC amount before GST; not a universal Howrah–Kamakhya checkout price |
The railway fare actually payable depends on the stations, class, passenger details, taxes and any applicable booking components shown by IRCTC. The kilometre figures are a published fare structure, not a promise that every passenger will see the same total. Check the fare breakdown on the booking screen.
Does Vande Bharat Sleeper have RAC?
No RAC tickets are provided for this sleeper service, according to the same Railway Minister’s reply summarized by PIB in March 2026. A passenger on the waiting list may receive confirmation if a confirmed passenger cancels, but a waitlist does not guarantee that a berth will be assigned.
If your status remains waitlisted near departure, check the current ticket status and railway rules before travelling. Do not plan an overnight journey on the assumption that a waitlisted ticket will become confirmed.
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The Ministry’s pre-launch description specifies a 16-coach train with capacity for 823 passengers:
| Coach type | Number of coaches |
|---|---|
| AC 3-tier | 11 |
| AC 2-tier | 4 |
| AC First Class | 1 |
| Total | 16 coaches; 823 passengers |
The Ministry describes ergonomic sleeper berths, charging ports, luggage space, accessible provisions, onboard catering, modern toilets and safety features. These are features stated in official descriptions; they should not be read as an independent inspection or a guarantee that every facility will operate identically on every run.
Choosing a class
- AC 3-tier: the largest allocation in the stated formation, with 11 coaches. The published 3AC fare structure is ₹2.40 per passenger-kilometre before GST.
- AC 2-tier: four coaches in the stated formation, offering a different berth layout and live fare that must be checked for the selected trip.
- AC First Class: one coach in the stated formation; availability may be more limited, and the booking screen is the authority for its fare and berth status.
Planning an overnight journey
Start with the complete trip rather than only the train’s departure time. Compare the time and cost of reaching Howrah or Kamakhya, the rail journey, and the onward trip from the destination station. For a connection, leave a buffer because an indicative timetable is not a guarantee of punctual arrival.
A practical pre-booking checklist
- Confirm that your date matches the train’s current operating calendar.
- Search the exact boarding and destination stations in IRCTC.
- Compare 3AC, 2AC and 1AC availability and the total displayed fare.
- Check whether the overnight arrival falls on the next calendar day.
- Review the passenger names and identity details before payment.
- Keep the electronic reservation slip accessible after booking.
- Recheck the timetable and platform information close to departure, especially if you are making another connection.
For personal comfort, an ordinary compact neck pillow can be packed if you prefer one for overnight travel. It is optional, is not supplied or required by the railway and is not a train-specific accessory.
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A useful comparison includes more than the headline speed. For another train or an airline, compare:
- door-to-door travel time, including access to Howrah or Kamakhya and the final local journey;
- the actual travel date and whether the overnight schedule fits your plans;
- live ticket or airfare, taxes and transport to the station or airport;
- whether a sleeper berth replaces a hotel night;
- the risk and cost of a missed connection;
- the class, baggage arrangement and onboard services you will actually use.
The available evidence establishes the first Howrah–Kamakhya sleeper service, not a ranking against every competing train or flight. Use the live schedules and prices for your own date when making that decision.
What can change after launch?
Service days, intermediate stops, departure times, coach composition, fares and seat inventory are operational details. The launch-era timetable and six-day pattern are useful for identifying the service, but they are not a permanent guarantee. IRCTC’s result for your selected date and current railway notices take priority over an older timetable listing or launch report.
The official launch material attributed to the Ministry of Railways described the service as a transformative step in long-distance overnight rail travel and reported Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s statement that the train’s trials, testing and certification had been completed. Those statements explain the launch context; your booking decision should still be based on the live train record for the journey date.
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