Kolkata–Delhi Vande Bharat Sleeper Likely Soon, Travel Time May Reduce to 15 Hours

Kolkata's rail connectivity with the national capital is set for a major upgrade as Indian Railways prepares to introduce the Vande Bharat Sleeper service on the Howrah Junction–New Delhi corridor, one of the busiest long-distance routes in the country.

Spanning nearly 1,500 kilometres, the proposed service is expected to reduce travel time between Kolkata and Delhi to around 15 hours. At present, most trains on the route take between 17 and 23 hours to complete the journey.

The Vande Bharat Sleeper is expected to operate through key railway junctions including Asansol, Dhanbad, Gaya, Prayagraj and Kanpur, strengthening connectivity between eastern and northern India.

Designed for overnight long-distance travel, the 16-coach trainset will offer AC First Class, AC 2-Tier and AC 3-Tier accommodation, with a total capacity of around 823 passengers. The train will also feature several modern amenities and safety enhancements, including Kavach collision avoidance technology, automatic doors, CCTV surveillance and improved passenger comfort systems.

The introduction of the service is expected to significantly enhance the travel experience for passengers commuting between Kolkata and Delhi, offering a faster, safer and more comfortable alternative on one of India's most important rail corridors.

Once operational, the Kolkata–Delhi service will become West Bengal's second Vande Bharat Sleeper route after the Howrah–Kamakhya corridor, further strengthening the state's position in India's rapidly modernising railway network.

The proposed launch marks another step in Indian Railways' efforts to transform long-distance travel through next-generation train services while improving connectivity between major economic and population centres across the country.