Kamal Ghorui
Indian Railways reached a new milestone on January 17 with the launch of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged it off with a lot of fanfare. The train now runs between Howrah in West Bengal and Kamakhya in Assam. It promises faster travel and a more comfortable journey, giving passengers a modern experience similar to flying. But the train is now in news for another reason!
Travel with a modern touch
Passengers on the inaugural run shared their excitement online. Videos showed staff in gloves and hairnets serving food directly to passengers as they moved along the aisles. “Food is now being served just like it is on flights,” said one traveller.The meals impressed many. Snack boxes contained items like kachori, pasta mixture, and kaju katli. Passengers from Kolkata got Bengali dishes, while those from Guwahati enjoyed Assamese cuisine. A first-class passenger praised the lunch of pulao, paratha, and mishti doi, saying it had “top-notch packaging and authentic flavours.” They added that the portions were “more than enough” and “definitely worth the ticket price.”
Civic sense under the microscope
But the launch also revealed a familiar concern. A vlogger captured litter scattered across the coach floor, despite the presence of dustbins.“I want to say something from the heart, just look at this,” he said. He questioned the habit of blaming authorities: “Now tell me, is this the Railways’ fault, the government’s fault or our own? Look at the civic sense. It’s a brand-new train, the very first day, and this is what’s happening.”He added, “I had seen a lot of filth left behind by passengers,” and reminded people, “Dustbins are provided, everything is there – just use them, what will you lose?” His social media caption summed it up: “The train is world-class, but our civic sense isn’t.”
Modern trains need responsible passengers
The Vande Bharat Sleeper shows India’s progress in railway modernisation, offering comfort, speed, and upgraded services. But the first journey also highlighted a simple truth: a world-class train experience depends as much on passengers’ civic sense as on modern technology.Disclaimer: This article is based on passenger reactions and social media posts from the train’s inaugural journey. The Times of India is reporting these as shared online and does not independently verify them.Thumb image: Instagram
