Vande Bharat Express is expanding into overnight sleeper services across the country. Multiple manufacturers are now working on advanced sleeper trainsets for Indian Railways, which are designed to offer greater comfort and speed for long-distance journeys. Prototypes are currently undergoing trials, with more trains expected to enter passenger service soon.
Vande Bharat Express has come a long way since the first train was launched in 2019. What began as a premium chair-car service for daytime journeys is now expanding into overnight travel, with the Vande Bharat sleeper train set to bring semi-high-speed rail travel to more long-distance routes.
The first Vande Bharat sleeper trains entered service earlier this year on the Guwahati-Howrah route. A second pair is currently undergoing trials and could soon be inducted into passenger service. Reports have suggested Bengaluru-Mumbai as a possible route, although Indian Railways has not officially confirmed the deployment.
The sleeper project is also entering a larger manufacturing phase, with plans for 260 Vande Bharat sleeper rakes involving multiple manufacturers.
The first 10 Vande Bharat sleeper trainsets are being manufactured by BEML. These trains will have 16 coaches. Another 50 sleeper trains are planned to be manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.
The ICF-built trains will have 24 coaches, allowing Indian Railways to operate them on longer overnight routes. These trainsets will also feature a pantry car.
ICF General Manager Manish Agarwal has said that production drawings covering structural and fabrication assemblies, coach-to-coach interfaces and underframe equipment layouts have been prepared for the indigenous 24-coach Vande Bharat sleeper trains.
In addition, Indian Railways has awarded a contract for 200 Vande Bharat sleeper trainsets to two consortiums. Kinet will manufacture 120 trainsets, while the Titagarh-BHEL joint venture will produce 80 rakes.
RVNL has partnered with Russian company Transmashholding (TMH) to establish Kinet Railway Solutions Ltd, an Indo-Russian joint venture that will manufacture 120 Vande Bharat sleeper trainsets.
Production is being carried out at the upgraded Marathwada Rail Coach Factory in Latur, Maharashtra. Each Kinet trainset will comprise 16 coaches.
According to RVNL, manufacturing work is already underway, with the first prototype expected to roll out during the current financial year.
RVNL Chairman and Managing Director Saleem Ahmad shared the update at the company's 23rd annual general meeting.
The first prototype had initially been targeted for June 2026. The deadline has since been revised to March 31, 2027.
The Titagarh-BHEL joint venture has also indicated that its first Vande Bharat sleeper prototype is expected to roll out next year.
Indian Railways is looking at a substantial expansion of the Vande Bharat sleeper fleet.
The current manufacturing plans include: 10 sleeper trainsets to be manufactured by BEML; 50 trains to be produced by ICF Chennai; 120 trainsets to be manufactured by Kinet Railway Solutions; 80 rakes to be produced by the Titagarh-BHEL joint venture.
Together, these plans add up to 260 Vande Bharat sleeper rakes, creating a much larger fleet for overnight operations across the railway network.
The Vande Bharat sleeper train has a design speed of 180 kmph, while its operational speed is expected to be up to 160 kmph, depending on the route and the speed permitted on the railway infrastructure.
Unlike conventional locomotive-hauled trains, the Vande Bharat sleeper uses distributed power. Power is spread across the trainset rather than concentrated in a separate locomotive.
This allows the train to accelerate and brake more quickly, potentially increasing average speeds and reducing journey times on suitable routes.
The sleeper train has been developed as a semi-high-speed overnight train and incorporates design elements inspired by modern European rail systems.
The current 16-coach Vande Bharat sleeper prototype has: 11 AC 3-tier coaches; four AC 2-tier coaches; one AC First Class coach.
The coaches have been designed with a focus on passenger comfort during overnight journeys. Cushioned berths and redesigned access arrangements for upper berths are among the features aimed at making sleeping and boarding more convenient.
The longer 24-coach version planned by ICF will provide additional capacity and is expected to be better suited to longer-distance overnight services.
The Vande Bharat sleeper train comes with several features aimed at improving comfort, safety and onboard convenience.
The coaches feature night lighting, integrated announcement systems and passenger information display panels. CCTV surveillance and modular pantry units are also part of the onboard setup.
Passengers will have access to reading lights, charging points and refreshment tables in the coaches.
The train also uses fully sealed gangways and automatic interconnecting doors, helping maintain temperature and air quality inside the coaches.
The sleeper train has aircraft-style bio-vacuum toilets designed to improve hygiene and reduce water usage. Separate washroom facilities have also been provided for passengers with disabilities.
The AC First Class coach has additional premium facilities, including shower facilities and hot water, giving the train a more premium overnight travel experience.
Safety is another major focus of the new trainset. The Vande Bharat sleeper train is equipped with KAVACH, India's indigenous automatic train protection system designed to reduce the risk of collisions and improve operational safety.
The train also features a regenerative braking system, which can recover energy during braking and improve overall energy efficiency.
A Centralised Coach Monitoring System allows train systems to be monitored, while an emergency communication system enables passengers to communicate with the driver in an emergency.
The train has automatic doors designed to open at designated stations, improving boarding and reducing the need for manual operation.
Inside the coaches, passenger information displays, announcement systems, reading lights and charging points are designed to make long overnight journeys more convenient.
The combination of sealed gangways and automatic interconnecting doors is also intended to provide a more controlled environment between coaches.
The rollout of additional Vande Bharat sleeper trains will depend on prototype development, testing, certification and route readiness.
The second pair of sleeper trains is currently undergoing trials and is expected to enter passenger service after completing the required processes. Meanwhile, the first Kinet prototype is now targeted for March 31, 2027, while the Titagarh-BHEL consortium is also working towards a prototype rollout next year.
As production ramps up across BEML, ICF, Kinet and Titagarh-BHEL, Indian Railways is expected to gradually expand Vande Bharat sleeper services to more long-distance overnight routes.
