India is ready for the first commercial run of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express on January 22, 2026. The train, operated by Northeast Frontier Railway, will cover 972 km from Guwahati (Kamakhya) to Howrah within 14 hours, saving 3 hours compared to the Saraighat Express. Train number 27576 departs Kamakhya at 6:15 pm and arrives at Howrah at 8:15 am. The return train, number 27575, leaves Howrah at 6:20 pm and reaches Kamakhya at 8:20 am. The Kamakhya to Howrah train will not run on Wednesdays, and the return train will not operate on Thursdays. The fare for Tier-1 AC is ₹3,855, Tier-2 AC is ₹3,145, and Tier-3 AC is ₹2,435. Similar pricing applies for the reverse journey. En route, the train will stop at 13 stations including Rangiya, New Bongaigaon, New Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri Road, and Malda Town, enhancing connectivity in Assam and West Bengal districts. Ticket cancellation rules are strict: no refund within 8 hours of departure, 25% charge if cancelled anytime after booking, and 50% charge for cancellations between 72 and 8 hours before departure. Cancellation fees vary by class, for example, ₹240 for Tier-1 AC and ₹60 for second class. The train has 16 coaches, with 11 three-tier AC, 4 two-tier AC, and 1 first-class AC coaches. It can carry around 823 passengers, marking a step forward for semi-high-speed travel in the region.