Indian Railways to Introduce Nine More Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains by December 2025
Indian Railways to Introduce Nine More Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains by December 2025
Full-scale Production of 24-Car Sleeper Version Expected by 2026-27
New Delhi: Following the successful trial of the first Vande Bharat Sleeper train, the Ministry of Railways has ordered the production of nine additional sleeper versions of the premium train by the end of December 2025. These 16-car trains will be manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, officials confirmed.
Expansion Plans for 24-Car Sleeper Trains
In addition to the 16-car trains, Indian Railways is also planning to introduce 24-car Vande Bharat Sleeper trains. The railway authority has placed an order for propulsion electrics—systems that power the trains— for 50 rakes of the 24-car sleeper variant. This order, placed on December 17, 2024, has been awarded to two companies: Hyderabad-based Medha Servo Drives Pvt Ltd (MSDPL) and French manufacturer Alstom. MSDPL will supply propulsion systems for 33 rakes, while Alstom will provide for 17 rakes over the next two years. Officials estimate that full-scale production of these longer trains will commence in 2026-27.
Successful Trial of First Sleeper Train
The Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO) successfully completed trials of the first 16-car Vande Bharat Sleeper train on January 15, 2025. The trial covered a 540 km distance on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route. The train, manufactured by ICF, was completed on December 17, 2024, and was initially tested in the Kota Division on short-distance runs of 30-40 km at a high speed of 180 km per hour.
Before the train is put into operation, RDSO will conduct further analysis and issue a final certification. Additionally, the railway safety commissioner will evaluate the train at its maximum speed. The 16-coach sleeper train is designed with three classes—AC 1st Class, AC 2-Tier, and AC 3-Tier—accommodating a total of 1,128 passengers. It is equipped with advanced safety features, including crash buffers, deformation tubes, and a fire-barrier wall.
Contracts with National and International Manufacturers
Indian Railways has also signed major contracts with private and international firms for the supply of Vande Bharat Sleeper trains. In June 2023, a consortium of Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd (TRSL) and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) won a contract to manufacture 80 Vande Bharat Sleeper trains at a cost of ₹24,000 crore.
Additionally, on September 27, 2023, Indian Railways signed a contract with the Indo-Russian joint venture Kinet Railway Solutions Ltd for the production of Vande Bharat Sleeper trains. This joint venture includes Russia’s largest rolling stock manufacturer, Transmashholding’s units (TMH), Locomotive Electronic Systems (LES), and Metrowagonmash, in collaboration with India’s state-owned Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL).
Under this contract, Kinet Railway Solutions will supply 1,920 Vande Bharat Sleeper coaches and provide maintenance services for 35 years. The manufacturing will take place at the Marathwada Rail Coach Factory (MRCF) in Latur, Maharashtra.
With these developments, Indian Railways aims to enhance its premium train services, offering greater comfort and efficiency for long-distance travel.
