Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw unveiled the prototype version of the Vande Bharat sleeper coach at the BEML's facility in Bengaluru.
The new coachs will undergo rigorous trials and tests for the next ten days before rolling it out on the track for further testing, Vaishnaw told reporters. The train is expected to be open for passenger operation in the next three months.
A video of the new Vande Bharat sleeper train shows the coaches designed for overnight journeys covering 800 km to 1,200 km. The enhanced features include improved oxygen levels and virus protection.
"After Vande Bharat chair cars, we were working on Vande Bharat sleeper cars. Its manufacturing has now been completed. This train will go out for the trial and testing from the BEML facility today," Vaishnaw said.
Once the prototypes of Vande Bharat sleeper cars are properly tested, then the series of production will start.
Vaishnaw said that in the new coaches have modern technology, safe and special facilities for loco pilots and service staff.
"A lot of things have been taken care of in this coach... Four trains, Vande Chair Car, Vande Sleeper, Vande Metro and Amrit Bharat have been designed in a way to address many things, like modern technology, safety and special facilities for loco pilots and service staff. This is a means of transport for middle-class people, so its fare will be affordable," he said.
"There are a lot of safety features on this train. Also, a lot of innovations have been made in design. A separate cabin has been made for the maintenance staff...This train can be compared with the best trains in the world," he added
The minister that the government will start the series of production after one-and-half years. Then it will be like practically every month two to three trains will start rolling out, he added.
The minister said that designing a new train is a very complex job and added that many new features have been introduced in the Vande Bharat sleeper cars.
"We are continuously improving the design of the Vande Bharat train. We are learning from the experience and are improving it further. The same philosophy will be adopted for Vande Bharat Metro," he added.
Vaishnaw said the Railways is working on four configurations -- Vande Bharat chair cars, Vande Bharat sleeper cars, Vande Bharat Metro cars and Amrit Bharat -- which will change the way people travel.
According to him, the Vande Bharat sleeper train with 16 coaches is meant for overnight journeys and will cover 800 km to 1,200 km. The oxygen level inside the train and virus protection, a lesson learnt from COVID-19 pandemic, are added features of the train.
"It will be a train meant for the middle class and the fares will be on par with Rajdhani Express," Vaishnaw said.
On the complaints about poor food quality being served in Vande Bharat, the minister said the Indian Railways serve 13 lakh meals a day and the complaints are less than 0.01. "But still we are very, very concerned about the complaints which come and we have taken very strong action against the caterers as well as the suppliers." The minister laid the foundation stone for a new Vande Bharat manufacturing facility on the Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) premises.
Vaishnaw also laid the foundation stone for a new Hangar facility spanning 9.2 acres near BEML’s Bengaluru complex.
"This facility is dedicated to the export of standard and broad-gauge rolling stock, further expanding BEML's global reach," BEML said in a statement.