Indian Railways is steadily moving towards modernization. In 2019, the Vande Bharat Express train was launched, which is now India’s fastest train. Previously, this title was held by the Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi. Since 2019, up until September 14, 2024, India has introduced 60 Vande Bharat trains. These trains cover more than 280 districts across 24 states and Union Territories.
The fare of the Vande Bharat Express is slightly higher than regular AC trains. Indian Railways is now set to introduce a sleeper version of the Vande Bharat Express, which is expected to hit the tracks by next year. The first Vande Bharat sleeper train will run from New Delhi to Srinagar. Let’s take a look at its route and fare details.
New Delhi to Srinagar Vande Bharat Sleeper
In September 2024, India’s Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw unveiled the prototype of the Vande Bharat sleeper train. It is estimated that by January 2025, India will get its first Vande Bharat sleeper train, which will run between New Delhi and Srinagar. The train will operate under the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. The sleeper train will cover the 800-kilometer distance in less than 13 hours. According to a senior railway official, the train will initially run between New Delhi and Srinagar and later be extended to Baramulla.
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Route Details
The New Delhi-Srinagar Vande Bharat sleeper train will stop at stations like Ambala Cantt Junction, Ludhiana Junction, Kathua, Jammu Tawi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Sangaldan, and Banihal. The train will depart from New Delhi at 7 PM and arrive in Srinagar at 8 AM. Passengers will have three coach options: AC 3-tier (3A), AC 2-tier (2A), and AC First Class (1A).
Fare Details
The fare for the New Delhi-Srinagar Vande Bharat sleeper train is expected to be around ₹2,000 for AC 3-tier, ₹2,500 for AC 2-tier, and ₹3,000 for AC First Class.