Railways is set to take a major step towards expanding its premium long-distance rail network with the introduction of more Vande Bharat Sleeper services. Since its launch, the Vande Bharat Express has primarily operated as a chair car train on daytime routes, but passengers have long demanded an increase in sleeper version for overnight journeys. The new trainsets are expected to significantly increase passenger capacity and support the rollout of Vande Bharat Sleeper services on more long-distance routes across India.
To meet this demand, Chennai’s Integral Coach Factory (ICF) will manufacture 50 Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets, each comprising 24 coaches.
Indian Railways is preparing to expand its Vande Bharat sleeper network, with ICF Chennai set to manufacture 50 trainsets featuring 24 coaches each.
These designs cover the coach structure, the systems used to connect the coaches, and the equipment that will be installed underneath them. The existing Amrit Bharat trains mainly have general and sleeper coaches. The addition of AC coaches in the next generation could widen the range of passengers served by the train. The latest developments at ICF indicate that production planning for both Vande Bharat sleeper and next-generation Amrit Bharat trains is moving forward.
The production drawings for the indigenous 24-coach Vande Bharat sleeper trainsets have been completed, according to ICF General Manager Manish Agarwal.
