Inaugural route
Howrah Junction to Kamakhya Junction (968 km) — the first commercial Vande Bharat Sleeper service, operated by Northeast Frontier Railway under train nos. 27575/27576.
15 February 2019
Born at ICF Chennai.
Where it began
Born at ICF Chennai.
Built for a billion people.
India's engineers built an entire semi-high-speed trainset in 18 months — without a single foreign component. Train 18, now Vande Bharat Express, changed what Indian railways could be.
18
months to build the first trainset at ICF Chennai
₹97 Cr
per trainset vs ₹200 Cr+ for imported alternatives
100%
indigenously designed and manufactured under Make in India
1st
loco-less semi-high-speed train ever built in India
A network that kept growing
From a single inaugural run to every corner of the country.
2019
The first run
Train 18 debuts as Vande Bharat Express on New Delhi–Varanasi. India's fastest train at 130 km/h commercial speed — no separate locomotive, self-propelled throughout.
2020–21
Expanding north
Second Vande Bharat introduced on New Delhi–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, bringing premium rail to one of India's busiest pilgrimage corridors.
2022
National rollout begins
The government targets 75 Vande Bharat trains by Independence Day. South and East India see their first services. The network spreads from Chennai to Guwahati.
2023
Generation 2 arrives
Upgraded trainsets with improved ride quality, wider windows, better accessibility, enhanced food service, and a new exterior livery hit the tracks across India.
2024–25
100+ routes and Sleeper trials
The network crosses 100 services nationwide. Vande Bharat Sleeper prototypes begin trials, targeting overnight corridors long dominated by Rajdhani Express.
Onboard with Vande Bharat
Watch the experience, speed, and comfort of India's premium rail service in action.
Vande Bharat Express experience and onboard glimpse.
Vande Bharat in motion
Signature visuals that capture the sleek, modern silhouette of India's flagship train.
India, connected
Every region of the country now has Vande Bharat services — from the Himalayas to the southern tip.
Now running
Vande Bharat Sleeper
Inaugurated on 17 January 2026 by PM Narendra Modi — the overnight evolution of India's flagship train is now on the tracks.
Three classes, 823 seats
1 First AC (24 seats) · 4 Second AC (188 seats) · 11 Third AC (611 seats). Berths are broader and better cushioned than existing sleeper stock, with reading lights and charging points at every berth.
Built for the long haul
Designed for corridors 800–1,200 km apart. Capable of 180 km/h, equipped with Kavach, Wi-Fi, CCTV, and onboard catering. 12 more trainsets planned by March 2027.
Vande Bharat Sleeper in pictures
India's first semi-high-speed overnight train — from concept to platform.
Engineering that changed Indian rail
Every number here is a deliberate design choice — not a compromise.
160 km/h
Design top speed
Operates at 130 km/h on current track infrastructure
~55 sec
0 to 100 km/h
Faster acceleration than any loco-hauled train in India
16
Coaches per trainset
1,128 seats across Executive Chair Car and Chair Car classes
0
Separate locomotives
Distributed traction — power units spread across the entire train
Kavach
Anti-collision system
Compatible with India's indigenous automatic train protection system
Bio-vac
Vacuum toilets
Zero trackside discharge — a first for Indian passenger rail
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