Status and Features of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Project

The first pair of Vande Bharat sleeper trains was launched earlier this year between Guwahati and Howrah.

Indian Railways’ first Vande Bharat Express was launched back in 2019 amid much fanfare. The chair car train became the face of modern train travel in India and now the Vande Bharat sleeper train is looking to replicate the success for overnight long-distance journeys. The first pair of Vande Bharat sleeper trains was launched earlier this year between Guwahati and Howrah. The second pair is undergoing trials and is expected to enter service soon. Reports suggest it may run between Bengaluru and Mumbai, though an official confirmation is awaited. What is the status of the Vande Bharat sleeper train project and when will new trains be launched? We take a look:

Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Project

The first 10 Vande Bharat sleeper trains are being manufactured by BEML. These are 16 car rakes. Another 50 trains will be rolled out by ICF Chennai, which will have 24 coaches and will enable much longer overnight journeys with a pantry car. ICF GM Manish Agarwal recently said that the production drawings for structural and fabrication assemblies, coach-to-coach interfaces and under frame equipment layouts have been prepared for the indigenous 24-car Vande Bharat Sleeper transit to be produced shortly. Apart from this a contract for manufacturing 200 Vande Bharat sleeper trains has been awarded by Indian Railways to two consortiums - Kinet will make 120 trains, and the Titagarh-BHEL JV will make 80 rakes.

Vande Sleeper Interior

RVNL has joined hands with Russian firm Transmashholding (TMH) to establish Kinet Railway Solutions Ltd, an Indo-Russian joint venture that will manufacture 120 Vande Bharat sleeper trainsets at the Marathwada factory in Maharashtra. Each trainset will consist of 16 coaches. Manufacturing work is underway at the upgraded Marathwada Rail Coach Factory in Latur, with the first prototype of the Vande Bharat sleeper train expected to roll out in the current financial year, a senior official of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) has said. RVNL Chairman and Managing Director Saleem Ahmad disclosed this at the company’s 23rd annual general meeting. The first prototype was originally scheduled to be ready by June 2026. The deadline has now been pushed to March 31 next year. Titagarh-BHEL JV has also indicated a roll out timeline of next year for the first prototype.

Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Features

The new train has a design speed of 180 kmph, while its operational speed is 160 kmph, subject to the speed permitted on the route where it operates. Unlike conventional trains that rely on a locomotive, Vande Bharat sleeper trains use distributed power. This arrangement enables quicker acceleration and braking, which can raise average speeds and significantly cut travel time.

Vande Bharat Sleeper First AC coach

The new train sets have better-than-Rajdhani Express features and aim to be a game-changer for overnight travel on the Indian Railways network:

▪ The Vande Bharat sleeper prototype currently consists of 16 coaches. ▪ The train has 11 AC 3-tier coaches, four AC 2-tier coaches and one AC First Class coach. ▪ It has been designed to operate at speeds of up to 160 kmph and has undergone testing at 180 kmph. ▪ It is a semi-high-speed sleeper train drawing inspiration from contemporary European rail systems. ▪ Cushioned berths and redesigned access to the upper berths have been provided to improve passenger comfort. ▪ The coaches feature night lighting and integrated announcement systems along with display panels. ▪ Onboard facilities include CCTV surveillance and modular pantry units. ▪ The train is equipped with aircraft-style bio-vacuum toilets as well as separate washrooms designed for disabled passengers. ▪ AC First Class coaches come with shower facilities and hot water. ▪ Indigenous KAVACH anti-collision safety technology has been installed on the train. ▪ A regenerative braking system helps improve energy efficiency. ▪ Fully sealed gangways and automatic interconnecting doors help maintain air quality and temperature inside the coaches. ▪ Each coach is provided with reading lights, charging points and refreshment tables. ▪ The train doors are designed to open automatically at designated stations. ▪ A Centralised Coach Monitoring System and an emergency communication system connecting passengers with the driver are also part of the train.