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India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper Express train will be maintained and operated by NFR zone. (Image: Ministry of Railways)
Kamakhya-Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper Express: India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train is set to begin its commercial operation today. Flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 17, the semi-high-speed train has seen strong demand, with tickets selling out within hours of booking opening. The Kamakhya-Howrah-Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper Express comprises 16 coaches, with three classes of travel: Third AC, Second AC and First AC.
Kamakhya-Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper Express commercial run: 5 things every passenger must know
Train number 27576 will leave Kamakhya at 18:15 hrs and reach Howrah at 08:15 hrs the next day. It will complete the entire journey in just 14 hours. Here are five important things passengers need to know while travelling on the first Vande Bharat Sleeper train:
- Only confirmed ticket passengers will be allowed to travel
According to the Railway Board, only passengers with confirmed tickets will be allowed to board the train. The passengers with RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation), waitlisted or partially confirmed tickets will not be permitted to board the Kamakhya-Howrah-Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper train.
- Vande Bharat Sleeper ticket cancellation rules
In case of last-minute cancellation due to a change in travel plans, passengers will not be entitled to any fare refund. According to the Railway Board, if a confirmed ticket of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express is presented by the passenger or his representative for cancellation, the refund of fare shall be made after deducting cancellation charges from the fare as follows:
- if the ticket is presented for cancellation more than 72 hours in advance of the scheduled departure of the train, the cancellation charge shall be 25% of the fare
- if the ticket is presented for cancellation between 72 hours and upto 8 hours before the scheduled departure of the train, the cancellation charge shall be 50% of the fare
- if the ticket is presented for cancellation in less than 8 hours of the scheduled departure of the train, no refund shall be granted.
- IRCTC catering services
On Vande Bharat Sleeper train, the catering services will be provided as an integral part of services. IRCTC will provide a one-litre ‘Rail Neer’ packaged drinking water bottle and a newspaper to all passengers, at free of cost. Apart from these, the IRCTC will provide catering services to all passengers of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, based on the journey duration between each origin–destination (O–D) pair of stations. Here’s a look at the food menu on the Vande Bharat Sleeper train:
Dinner
Bengali Meal
Assamese Meal
Source: IRCTC | India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper Express features regional Bengali and Assamese cuisines with rotating menu options
Express InfoGenIE
- Vande Bharat Sleeper train luggage rules
This is an important question about how much baggage is allowed while travelling on the Vande Bharat Sleeper train. Earlier this month, speaking to Indianexpress.com, Shibram Majhi, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Eastern Railway said that there has been no change in the luggage limit for the Vande Bharat Sleeper train till now. Thus, the passengers will have to follow the existing baggage rules while travelling.
As the Howrah-Guwahati Vande Bharat Sleeper train has only three classes of accommodation: First AC, Second AC and Third AC, the luggage allowance varies accordingly. The passengers travelling in First AC are permitted to carry up to 70 kg of luggage, while those in Second AC and Third AC can carry up to 50 kg and 40 kg, respectively. Here’s a look at the Indian Railways luggage rules:
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Indian Railways permits free luggage as per travel class, with a marginal allowance available on payment. Luggage beyond this limit attracts penalty.
AC First Class (1A)
Up to 70 kg
AC 2-Tier (2A)
Up to 50 kg
AC 3-Tier (3A)
Up to 40 kg
Sleeper Class (SL)
Up to 40 kg
Second Sitting (2S)
Up to 35 kg
• Passengers may carry an additional 10–15 kg (as applicable)
• By paying 1.5 times the standard luggage charge
• No penalty is levied within this marginal limit
Exceeding the Permissible Limit?
• Carrying luggage beyond free + marginal allowance
• Or carrying luggage without booking
Will attract penal charges as per Railway rules
Source: Ministry of Railways
Express InfoGenIE
- High-quality mill-made linen items
Passengers travelling on India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train will be provided with high-quality mill-made linen items onboard. The standard linen kit will include a bed sheet, a pillow cushion with cover, a wool-rich premium blanket with a blanket cover and a hand towel.
Anish Mondal is a journalist with over nine years of experience covering the railways and roadways. Currently a member of the Indianexpress.com editorial team, Anish specializes in high-impact sectors. Professional Journey Anish began his career at the public broadcaster Rajya Sabha Television (now Sansad TV), where he developed a foundational understanding of legislative processes and national governance. In 2018, he transitioned to digital financial journalism at FinancialExpress.com, spending nearly six years refining his expertise in market trends and corporate reporting. Before joining The Indian Express in 2025, he served as a key contributor at ETNowNews.com. Education & Expertise Anish’s reporting is backed by a rigorous academic background in communication and the humanities: Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) – Apeejay Stya University Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Production (PGTVRJP) – Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication Bachelor of Arts (English Honours) – University of Calcutta Areas of Coverage Connectivity: Detailed reporting on the expansion of Indian Railways and National Highway networks. ... Read More
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