It’s Tuesday, January 20, 2026, and if you’ve spent years waking up with a stiff neck on the Saraighat Express, your life is about to change. Prime Minister Modi flagged it off from Malda Town on Saturday, but the first commercial run of the Vande Bharat sleeper officially kicks off this Thursday, January 22. Or nothing.
The thing is, this isn’t just a “faster train.” It’s basically a boutique hotel on tracks connecting Kolkata and Guwahati. Here’s the ground reality:
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The “Overnight” Shift: Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where the Northeast is finally getting the same tech as the metro corridors.
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The Speed Gain: The thing is, this train shaves three hours off the journey. You’re looking at 14 hours flat to cover nearly 1,000 km.
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The Route: It connects the land of Ma Kali (Howrah) with the land of Ma Kamakhya (Guwahati). Those too.
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Luxury Specs: We’re talking 16 coaches—mostly 3-tier AC, but with a First AC coach that actually has a shower cubicle. Let’s be real, that’s a game-changer for business travelers arriving for morning meetings.
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Vande Bharat Sleeper: The “Fast Facts”
| Train Detail | KYQ → HWH (27576) | HWH → KYQ (27575) |
| Commercial Start | January 22, 2026 | January 23, 2026 |
| Departure | 6:15 PM | 6:20 PM |
| Arrival | 8:15 AM (Next Day) | 8:20 AM (Next Day) |
| Frequency | 6 Days (Except Wed) | 6 Days (Except Thu) |
| Total Stops | 13 Major Halts | Bandel, Malda, NJP, etc. |
The “Cancellation” Catch…
And here’s the kicker—the Railways just dropped a bombshell on the refund rules. Or nothing. They’re treating this like a premium airline.
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The 8-Hour Rule: If you cancel less than 8 hours before departure, you get zero refund. The thing is, they’ve started preparing the charts earlier to “ensure commitment.”
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The “Anytime” Tax: Even if you cancel five minutes after booking, they’re keeping 25% of your money.
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The No-RAC Rule: There’s no “Reservation Against Cancellation.” You either have a bed or you don’t. Those too.
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End…
