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Howrah-Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper Express ticket booking to begin soon – 5 things every passengers should know

Howrah-Kamakhya Vande Bharat booking: The tickets for the Howrah-Guwahati Vande Bharat Sleeper Express can be booked through two modes: online and offline.

3 min readUpdated: Jan 18, 2026 08:36 PM IST

For online booking, passengers can reserve tickets via the IRCTC website or through the Rail Connect and RailOne apps. (Image generated using AI)

Howrah-Guwahati Vande Bharat Sleeper booking: As the country’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train is set to commence the commercial run from January 22, the ticket bookings are expected to open soon. The new semi-high-speed train will operate between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya), covering a distance of 958 km in just 14 hours. Once it begins commercial operations, it will become the fastest train on this route. Currently, the Kamrup Express is the fastest train, taking around 20 hours to cover nearly the same distance.

Also Read | Howrah to Guwahati: Here’s how India’s 1st Vande Bharat sleeper train could transform travel experience

Howrah-Guwahati Vande Bharat Sleeper ticket booking

The tickets for the Howrah–Guwahati Vande Bharat Sleeper Express can be booked through two modes: online and offline. For online booking, passengers can reserve tickets via the IRCTC website or through the Rail Connect and RailOne apps. For offline booking, travellers need to visit the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters at railway stations.

Also Read | Vande Bharat Sleeper Express fare: How much it will cost from Howrah/Kamakhya to Malda, NJP

Howrah–Guwahati Vande Bharat Sleeper tickets opening soon – Here’s what every passenger must know

Before booking tickets on this new premium train, passengers should be aware of the below mentioned five key points:

No RAC facility will be available; only confirmed tickets will be allowed

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 Howrah-Guwahati Vande Bharat Sleeper train.

All berths will be available from the first day of ARP

All available berths will be available from the day of Advance Reservation Period (ARP). The minimum chargeable distance will be 400 km and fare rounding will be done in accordance with existing Indian Railways rules.

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Only 4 booking quotas will be available

The Vande Bharat Sleeper train will have only four quotas: Ladies quota, quota for Persons with Disabilities (PwD), Senior Citizen quota and Duty Pass quota. Apart from these, no other reservation quota will be applicable in this train.

Lower berth rules in Vande Bharat Sleeper Express

Under the Indian Railways’ computerised reservation system, male passengers aged 60 years and above and female passengers aged 45 years and above will be automatically allotted a lower berth while booking tickets for the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express.

However, this allotment will be subject to the availability of lower berths at the time of booking. In addition, when a passenger is travelling with a child who does not require a separate berth, the system will allocate a lower berth, if available.

Refund rules

According to the Railway Board, to enable initiation of refund within 24 hours of cancellation, all payments shall be accepted only digitally. “When ticket is purchased at window, the preferred payment mode shall be digitally. In case a customer is unable to make digital payment, the refund against cancellation will be made as per normal terms,” it said.

Anish Mondal

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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