The Indian Railways has planned to manufacture 260 rakes of the Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets as part of its efforts to modernise long-distance passenger travel and enhance safety and comfort, Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
In a written reply, the Minister said the development of new rolling stock such as the Vande Bharat Sleeper requires a holistic approach that combines technological innovation, strategic planning and advanced manufacturing processes. The programme involves prototype development, followed by extensive testing and trials before moving into series production to ensure safe, reliable and comfortable operations.
The manufacturing of Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets is being executed in a phased manner by BEML and the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, in collaboration with technology partners. Their induction into regular passenger services will also be carried out gradually, based on passenger demand and operational preparedness.
The Minister said that the sleeper version of the Vande Bharat trains has been designed to significantly improve the passenger travel experience and set new benchmarks in safety and comfort. The modern coaches are equipped with jerk-free semi-permanent couplers and anti-climbers, KAVACH train collision avoidance system, and a crashworthy car body design compliant with European (EN) standards.
The trains are designed for higher acceleration with a design speed of 180 kmph and an operating speed of up to 160 kmph. Enhanced fire safety measures have been incorporated, including fire barrier doors at the end of each coach and aerosol-based fire detection and suppression systems in electrical cabinets and lavatories.
Passenger amenities include a regenerative braking system for improved energy efficiency, centrally controlled automatic plug doors, fully sealed wider gangways, and CCTV cameras in all coaches. Air-conditioning units are fitted with indigenously developed UV-C lamp-based disinfection systems, capable of deactivating up to 99 per cent of harmful bacteria to improve onboard hygiene.
The trainsets also feature emergency talk-back units for direct communication between passengers and the train manager or loco pilot, a centralised coach monitoring system for real-time tracking of passenger amenities, and ergonomically designed ladders for easier access to upper berths. Special lavatories for Divyangjan passengers have been provided in the driving coaches at both ends of the train.
