Vande Bharat's Sleeper Version To Be Launched In Current Financial Year With 16 Coaches: Railway Official

B G Mallya, General Manager, ICF said that the Sleeper coach of Vande Bharat will be rolled out in the current financial year as the first train is under production, will be rolled out in March 2024.

According to Mallya, Vande Bharat sleeper will consist of 16 coaches with 11 AC three-tier coaches, 4 AC two-tier coaches, and 1 first AC coach. 

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Vande Bharat sleeper train is expected to launch in the financial year 2023-24, according to a Railways official. With sleeper couches the train would be able to undertake long overnight journeys. As of now, Vande Bharat trains consist of all-seater coaches. Additionally, the Indian Railways is set to unveil a train for non-air-conditioned travelers as well. 

B G Mallya, General Manager of Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, as per news agency ANI, said, "Sleeper coach of Vande Bharat will be rolled out in the current financial year where the first train is under production and will be rolled out in March 2024."

According to Mallya, Vande Bharat Sleeper will consist of 16 coaches with 11 AC three-tier coaches, 4 AC two-tier coaches, and 1 first AC coach. 

#WATCH | Indian Railways to launch sleeper version of Vande Bharat Express

B G Mallya, General Manager of Integral Coach Factory says, "We'll be launching the sleeper version of the Vande within this financial year. We'll also be launching the Vande Metro in this financial year.… pic.twitter.com/49q61cScIb

— ANI (@ANI) September 16, 2023

The Vande Bharat sleeper train has been specifically designed for long journeys and boasts a top speed of 220 km per hour. Nevertheless, officials indicate it will operate at a speed of 200 km per hour on the tracks. 

Indigenously built semi-rapid Vande Bharat Express currently operates on 25 routes across the nation, as per reports.

Mallya on Saturday also said that the Railways is also planning to launch trains for non-air conditioned passengers, which is called a non-AC push-pull train. These trains will consist of 22 non-AC sleeper coaches with a locomotive at both ends, he said. Adding that the launch of this train is planned to take place before October 31.

Apart from the sleeper trains, the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) is also working on Vande Metro, a 12-coach train explicitly designed for short-distance travel. The anticipated launch date for these metro trains is January 2024.

Production of these sleeper trains is being done through a joint venture between India's Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and Russia's TMH Group, with TMH securing the contract for 120 out of 200 new Vande Bharat sleeper trains, reported the Economic Times. The remaining 80 will be manufactured by a consortium of Titagarh Wagons and BHEL. 

As per reports, the building of Vande Bharat trains began in mid-2017, and Train-18, now named Vande Bharat Express, was completed by ICF Chennai in just 18 months. It achieved a top speed of 180 kmph on the Kota-Sawai Madhopur section.