Indian Railways to launch New Delhi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Sleeper train

NEW DELHI — The launch of the Vande Bharat Express trains has revolutionized rail travel in India, and the next evolution, the Vande Sleeper, is set to debut in January 2025.

Manufactured by BEML, the Vande Sleeper is designed for longer distances and overnight journeys. The prototype of this innovative train was showcased by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in September 2024.

According to a report, Indian Railways is all set to introduce the Vande Bharat Sleeper train set for the New Delhi-Srinagar route. A senior railway official informed us that this service will enhance connectivity between the national capital and the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, and they plan to extend the route to Baramulla in the future.

The New Delhi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Sleeper train will cover a distance of more than 800 km in less than 13 hours. The train is expected to depart from New Delhi at 19:00 hours to reach Srinagar at 08:00 hours. En route, the train will stop at only a few major stations including Ambala Cantt Junction, Ludhiana Junction, Kathua, Jammu Tawi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Sangaldan and Banihal.

The New Delhi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Sleeper will have three types of accommodation with varied ticket prices for the passengers including AC 3 Tier (3A) – Rs. 2000; AC 2 Tier (2A) – Rs. 2500 and AC First Class (1A) – Rs. 3000.