Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains to Roll Out After October 15: Railway Minister
Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains to Roll Out After October 15: Railway Minister
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has confirmed that the much-anticipated Vande Bharat sleeper trains will begin operations soon after October 15. He said the rollout has been held up slightly as Indian Railways is awaiting the delivery of a second rake.
“We want to launch two sleeper trains simultaneously. Since they are meant for daily service, both rakes must be ready. The second train is expected to arrive by October 15,” Vaishnaw explained at a press conference.
The new sleeper version, equipped with modern interiors, enhanced safety features, and passenger-friendly amenities, is expected to cut Delhi–Patna travel time to about 11 hours, compared to the current 12–17 hours.
Alongside this update, Vaishnaw announced major projects for Punjab’s railway network. These include a ₹443 crore Rajpura–Mohali line, long demanded since the 1960s, and a proposed Vande Bharat service linking Firozpur Cantt, Bhatinda, Patiala, and Delhi. He also highlighted the sharp rise in railway investments in Punjab—from ₹225 crore in 2009–14 to ₹5,421 crore today—crediting MoS Ravneet Bittu for his efforts in pushing key projects forward.
The launch of Vande Bharat sleeper trains is expected to redefine long-distance travel with a blend of speed, comfort, and convenience, while the new rail projects aim to strengthen regional connectivity and development.
