Vande Bharat Sleeper: India to Have 4,500 Trains by 2047; Advanced 4.0 Version Coming Next Year

Malda, West Bengal, January 16, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to flag off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train from Malda Town railway station in West Bengal on Saturday. The train will operate between Kolkata and Guwahati, strengthening rail connectivity between West Bengal and Assam. Alongside, the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation for railway and road projects worth over ₹3,250 crore.

Two Vande Bharat Sleeper trains have already been built. One will run from Kolkata (Howrah) to Guwahati (Kamakhya) and the other on the return route. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the Prime Minister will also unveil more than a dozen new trains in West Bengal during the event. The announcement comes ahead of assembly elections this year in five states, including West Bengal and Assam.

Expansion of Vande Bharat Trains

India’s first Vande Bharat Chair Car train was launched on February 15, 2019. The Vande Bharat 2.0 followed on September 30, 2022, and the 3.0 version was introduced in 2025. On January 17, 2026, the first Vande Bharat Sleeper will officially start operations. By 2027, an advanced Vande Bharat 4.0 is expected to be launched, equipped with the latest safety features, including the advanced version 5.0 of the Kavach anti-collision system.

The Indian Railways is also working on dedicated high-speed corridors to support these trains, allowing speeds of up to 350 km/h, comparable to bullet trains.

Fleet Growth and Future Plans

Since its launch in 2019, the Vande Bharat fleet has grown steadily. By December 2025, India had 164 Vande Bharat trains. This number is projected to reach 800 by 2030 and a remarkable 4,500 by 2047, including both Chair Car and Sleeper variants.

Currently, the new Vande Bharat Sleeper trains are designed for journeys of 1,000–1,500 km, but in the future, they are expected to cover long-distance routes from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. The Vande Bharat Chair Car has already become one of India’s most popular trains, and both state governments and parliamentarians are keen to introduce Sleeper services in their regions.

With the launch of the first Vande Bharat Sleeper this Saturday, the Railways plans a phased expansion across the country, ensuring that each state can benefit from this modern train service.