‘Matter of pride for Assam’: At Kamakhya station, curious onlookers, excited passengers welcome Vande Bharat Sleeper

She also seems content with the safety features in the coaches. “For a woman, safety is of utmost concern. This train has CCTV cameras as well. It is a matter of pride for Assam that such a fine train is starting from Guwahati,” says Shil.

Seven hundred kilometres from here, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off the Howrah to Guwahati version of the train in Malda, West Bengal, marking the beginning of a new era of sleeper train travel. The PM says, “What should the trains of a Viksit Bharat look like? It is clearly evident in this Vande Bharat Sleeper train. We used to look at photos and videos of foreign trains and wish that such trains existed in India, too. Today, we are seeing that dream turn into reality.” He adds, “This train connects the land of ‘Maa Kali’ with the land of ‘Maa Kamakhya’”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during flagging off the country’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya), in Malda, West Bengal. (PMO via PTI Photo)

In Guwahati, as the train is flagged off virtually by the PM, Class 6 student Anukriti Dasgupta rushes to grab the window seat. She is among the 47 students of South Point School travelling in the inaugural train. “I don’t want to miss a single scene,” she says. “I like everything about the Railways and will prefer it over air travel any day. Train horns give an exhilarating feeling of departure. I get to see a lot of things from the train window– forests, rivers, mountains,” says Anukriti, who wants to become a songwriter and believes that train journeys would enrich her writings.

Ain Hazarika, a Class 11 student, is impressed by the cleanliness inside the coaches. “Last month, I had to travel by another train and there were paan masala stains at places. Unless travelling by Rajdhani Express, one witnesses many problems during train travel. Of course, this train appears to be the best,” she says with cautious optimism. “But I am afraid it might get dirty soon.”

The semi-high speed train, heavily decked up with marigold garlands waits at platform number two,

Ani, who is a shooter, says the train would also help people from other parts of the country know the Northeast a little better. “It is very painful when we hear news about how Northeast students are sometimes treated in Delhi and North India…”

For loco pilot Saptranjan Mandal, the train makes him feel like his 26 years of dedicated service in the Railways have borne fruit. “I feel proud that Railways gave me this opportunity. This train has a very advanced system and is easy to pilot,” he adds. “This train has acceleration of 0.4-0.8 seconds. It can quickly reach 100 kmph speed. It has 50% motor coaches, which help achieve quick acceleration,” says CK Mishra, the assistant loco pilot.

However, the cost of a train journey is what could be a deterrent to someone like Arvind Prasad, who works in the maintenance department. “Even after saving for an entire year, I would be able to travel with my family only once,” says Prasad, even as he hails the train’s modern infrastructure for easing his workload.

A third AC journey from Howrah to Guwahati on the train will cost Rs 2,299.

The train will begin commercial operations next week, covering the 972 km between Howrah and Guwahati in 14 hours.

A third AC journey from Howrah to Guwahati on the train will cost Rs 2,299.

Manufactured by BEML, Vande Bharat Sleeper rakes are equipped with modern facilities such as hot water in 1AC, GPS based LED display and announcement system, sensor-based inter-communication doors and modular pantry service.

As it chugs into Howrah station, and the passengers deboard, many waiting on the platform hop on, looking to satiate their curiosity about the much-talked-about train.

“This is the Rajdhani moment for Railways, but of a new era. When Rajdhani Express launched in 1969, it was a watershed moment that set a high standard for Railways in terms of safe and comfortable travel. Vande Bharat Sleeper will go one step ahead,” says a senior official of the Ministry of Railways.