By Admin 
Vande Bharat Sleeper Express: Indian Railways is preparing to launch Vande Bharat Sleeper Express. Unlike conventional long distance trains, RAC or partially confirmed tickets will not be allowed in this service. With advanced technology and upgraded interior, one of the biggest questions of passengers is that what will be the per kilometer fare of this train and how expensive or cheaper will it be than Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains. Let us know what is the answer to this question.
Vande Bharat sleeper fare per kilometer
According to the fare structure of the Railway Board updated in January 2026, the fare of Vande Bharat Sleeper has been kept higher than other premium trains. For AC 3-tier you will have to pay Rs 2.4 per kilometer. AC 2-tier fare will be around Rs 3.10 per kilometer. Whereas for those choosing AC first class, this fare will be Rs 3.80 per kilometer. This is just a base fare and additional charges like GST and catering will also be added to it.
What is the rule of minimum distance?
One of the most important pricing conditions of Vande Bharat Sleeper is the mandatory minimum fare for 400 kms. Even if a passenger travels a short distance, the ticket price will be calculated as if he has traveled only 400 kilometers. For example, a 3AC passenger will have to pay only about ₹ 960 even for short distance travel. This rule clearly shows that this train is mainly designed for long distance overnight journeys rather than short distances.
Fare comparison with Rajdhani Express
Vande Bharat Sleeper is about 10 to 15 percent more expensive than Rajdhani Express. The average third AC fare in the capital is between Rs 2.10 to Rs 2.15 per kilometer. If we talk about Vande Bharat sleeper, it charges Rs 2.40 per kilometer. On long distances this difference can be ₹300 to ₹600 more on Vande Bharat ticket. Similar fare difference is seen in AC 2 and AC 1 also.
Along with this, if we talk about Shatabdi Express, it mainly has chair card setting and it does not have sleeper coach. Still, the fare of Vande Bharat Chair Car is about 15 percent more than the fare of Shatabdi.
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