Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to flag off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Class train on the Guwahati–Kolkata route later this month, marking a significant expansion of the country’s semi-high-speed rail network into long-distance overnight travel. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Thursday that the launch is expected within the next 15 to 20 days, most likely on January 18 or 19, with the official date to be confirmed shortly.