Union Minister for Railways
Appears in 1 story
Leading modernization push, overseeing Kavach and Vande Bharat expansion
India's railways date to 1853, when the first train ran 21 miles from Bombay to Thane under British colonial rule. For 170 years, long-distance overnight travel meant cramped, aging coaches. On January 17, 2026, India launched its first high-speed sleeper train—a 16-coach air-conditioned service covering 958 km between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya) in 14 hours, three hours faster than existing options. The train entered commercial service on January 22, 2026, with a strict policy: no VIP quota, digital transactions only, and confirmed tickets exclusively. Recent announcements confirm plans for 260 Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets to transform long-haul travel.
Updated Feb 5
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