No RAC, minimum chargeable distance 400 km: Vande Bharat Sleeper Express rolls out this week (Fare higher than those of other premium trains), Pg14

Key Highlights:

• The Vande Bharat Sleeper Express will not offer Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC).
• Ticket prices will be slightly higher than existing premium trains like Rajdhani Express, with a minimum chargeable distance of 400 km.
• The inaugural train will run on the Guwahati-Howrah route, reducing travel time by three hours.
• The train will have 16 coaches, including 11 3AC, four 2AC and one 1AC.
• Fares range from Rs 2.4 per km (3AC) to Rs 3.8 per km (1AC), excluding GST.

Detailed Insights:

• The Railway Board issued a circular on January 9 stating that only confirmed tickets will be issued, eliminating RAC and waitlisted tickets.
• Like other trains, Vande Bharat Sleeper will have quotas for women, Persons with Disabilities (PwD), senior citizens, and staff.
• For a 1,000 km distance, fares will be Rs 2,400 (3AC), Rs 3,100 (2AC), and Rs 3,800 (1AC); for 2,000 km, fares are Rs 4,800 (3AC), Rs 6,200 (2AC), and Rs 7,600 (1AC).
• The train will have features like ergonomically designed berths, automatic doors, enhanced suspension, noise reduction, Kavach protection system, and disinfectant technology.
• The train can travel at 180 kmph but will run up to 130 kmph for safety.

Key Concepts Involved:

• RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation): A type of train ticket where two passengers share a side lower berth if a confirmed seat is not available.
• Kavach: An automatic train protection system designed to prevent collisions by automatically applying brakes.