Ashwini Vaishnaw inspects India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train, to run Guwahati–Howrah
On 3 January 2026 at New Delhi Railway Station, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inspected India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train, which will run between Guwahati and Howrah after completing trials and certification.
Summary
On 3 January 2026 at New Delhi Railway Station, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inspected India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train, examining berths, interiors and safety systems. The train has automatic doors, the KAVACH safety system, improved fire safety, disinfectant technology and CCTV in all coaches, and its trials, testing and certification are complete. The first Vande Bharat Sleeper will run between Guwahati in Assam and Howrah in West Bengal and is to be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January.
Key facts
- Date / place
- 3 January 2026, New Delhi Railway Station
- Train
- India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper
- First route
- Guwahati (Assam) – Howrah (West Bengal)
- Features
- Automatic doors; KAVACH; CCTV in all coaches; improved fire safety
- Status
- Trials, testing and certification complete; PM to flag off in January
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Between which two places will India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train run, as announced during its inspection in January 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Guwahati – Howrah
PIB (Railways): the first Vande Bharat Sleeper will operate between Guwahati in Assam and Howrah in West Bengal.
Which indigenous automatic train protection system is fitted on the first Vande Bharat Sleeper train inspected in January 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — KAVACH
PIB (Railways): the train is equipped with the KAVACH safety system, automatic doors, improved fire safety and CCTV in all coaches.
Consider the following statements about the first Vande Bharat Sleeper train, as described by the Railways Ministry on 3 January 2026: 1. Its full cycle of trials, testing and certification has been completed. 2. The train starting from Guwahati will serve Assamese cuisine. 3. It was flagged off by the Prime Minister on 3 January 2026. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Railways): trials, testing and certification are complete, and the Guwahati-origin train will serve authentic Assamese cuisine. The PM was to flag it off later in January; on 3 January the train was only inspected, so statement 3 is wrong.