Jaipur–Ajmer to get its first sleeper Vande Bharat by March

Jaipur: Rajasthan’s rail map could soon change in a meaningful way, with Jaipur and Ajmer emerging as key stops on the state’s first Sleeper Vande Bharat train. While India is set to roll out its maiden Sleeper Vande Bharat service between Howrah and Guwahati this month, railway planners are already lining up the next phase—one that may bring overnight semi-high-speed travel to Rajasthan by March.

The national rollout was confirmed in Delhi by Ashwini Vaishnaw, who said the Sleeper Vande Bharat has completed testing, safety checks and certification. The inaugural service on the eastern corridor will be flagged off by Narendra Modi later this month. With that benchmark in place, attention has shifted to where the next sleeper sets will operate—and Jaipur–Ajmer has become a strong contender.

Railway officials and operations experts point out that Jaipur and Ajmer sit at the heart of some of North India’s busiest long-distance corridors. A Sleeper Vande Bharat running through these cities would serve multiple purposes at once: faster overnight travel, modern sleeper comfort, and a premium alternative to conventional long-haul trains.

Unlike the chair-car Vande Bharat trains designed for day journeys, the sleeper version is meant for longer distances. For Jaipur and Ajmer travellers, this could translate into a modern night train experience on routes traditionally dominated by Rajdhani and other express services. Railway planners believe this will especially benefit Delhi-bound passengers looking for speed and comfort combined with overnight convenience.

According to senior railway officials, North Western Railway is expected to receive a significant upgrade this year, including two Sleeper Vande Bharat trains, one regular Vande Bharat and one Amrit Bharat service. Proposals outlining potential routes through Rajasthan have already been sent to the Railway Board by senior zonal officers.