Overview
- The first departures are scheduled from Kamakhya on January 22 and from Howrah on January 23, running six days a week with a roughly 14‑hour end‑to‑end journey and halts at 13 stations including Malda Town and New Jalpaiguri.
- Reservations opened via PRS and online were fully booked within hours for the initial runs, with subsequent dates quickly moving to waitlist across classes.
- The 16‑coach, fully air‑conditioned rake offers 823 berths across First AC, AC 2‑tier and AC 3‑tier, and is equipped with Kavach automatic train protection, CCTV, fire safety measures and advanced disinfection systems.
- Boarding is restricted to confirmed ticket holders, cancellation penalties are higher than standard services, there is no VIP or emergency quota, premium mill‑made linen kits are provided, and existing Indian Railways luggage limits apply by class.
- IRCTC will serve region‑specific menus—Assamese on Guwahati‑originating trips and Bengali on Kolkata‑originating trips—with packaged water and newspapers provided, as social‑media videos draw both praise for amenities and concern over littering.