A train can be super impressive on its first day of inauguration but the real test comes months later. It comes after hundreds and thousands of passengers have travelled in those initially shiny compartments on countless journeys. And that’s exactly what this Bhutanese traveller named Anusha, known as Annu Sia on Instagram, set out to discover. The woman travelled solo in the Guwahati–Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper after six months, again. And her verdict has taken the internet by storm. The train had passed her “six-month vibe check”. In her video, she said she found the premium sleeper service was still remarkably clean, modern and supremely comfortable.Anusha lives in Assam and had previously travelled on the train around its launch. She returned to the train to see whether the initial shine had lasted. This time, she travelled solo in First AC from Guwahati towards Kolkata. “I was fully prepared to find our Guwahati to Kolkata Vande Bharat completely trashed today,” she said in her Instagram video.She was “shocked”The traveller in the video says she was completely “shocked” to see the Vande Bharat Sleeper setting a new standard for overnight rail travel. After boarding, Anusha said she was offered tea before she began inspecting the First AC coach. Her first impression was of a spacious and modern cabin that, according to her, remained “actually spotless” even six months.But Anusha chose to test a much tougher benchmark, the bathroom/washroom/toilet.Spotless bathrooms and good foodShe said the First AC section had an actual shower area and was surprised to find it clean even after six months of use. She also said the food tasted just as good as it had on her first trip.Her conclusion was the premium train had retained much of the experience that had impressed her on day one.Why Vande Bharat Sleeper train mattersThe Guwahati–Howrah service is more than another addition to India’s Vande Bharat network. It is the country’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper service and was introduced specifically to bring the semi-high-speed train concept into long-distance overnight travel.The Ministry of Railways announced the Guwahati–Howrah route in January 2026 after the train had completed its trials, testing and certification.Features:
- The train has 16 coaches
- 11 AC Three-Tier coaches
- 4 AC Two-Tier coaches
- 1 AC First Class coach
- Capacity for 823 passengers
- Maximum speed of 180 kmph
- Operating speeds of up to 160 kmph
Compartment features
- Automatic plug doors
- Wider sealed gangways
- KAVACH, CCTV cameras
- Better suspension
- Fire-safety systems
For travellers between Northeast India and eastern India, the biggest attraction is arguably the overnight format. Instead of losing a full day to a long rail journey, passengers can board in the evening and arrive the following morning.
Vande Bharat (Instagram)
The government had earlier estimated that the Vande Bharat Sleeper could cut travel time on the Howrah–Guwahati corridor to around 14 hours, compared with roughly 17 hours on the Saraighat Express.What it means for travellersFor travellers exploring Northeast India, Guwahati is a major gateway to destinations across Assam and neighbouring states. At the other end, Howrah provides access to Kolkata and eastern India’s cultural and historical attractions.The train’s onboard dining also reflects the regions it connects. Railway officials said passengers travelling from Guwahati would be offered Assamese cuisine, while services originating from Kolkata would feature Bengali delicacies.For tourists, that makes the journey itself part of the experience rather than simply a way of getting from one destination to another.The most interesting takeaway from Anusha’s review is that the new train inevitably attracts attention because everything is fresh. But six months later, cleanliness becomes a bigger concern.She had already seen the train at its newest. This time, she deliberately looked for signs of decline. She says she did not find them.Her final Vande Bharat Sleeper in First AC verdict was that she would “never” travel on another train again.
