The Indian Railways is on the brink of a revolution in overnight travel with the inauguration of the carbody structure of the Vande Bharat sleeper transit, a project aimed at enhancing passenger comfort. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently unveiled the carbody structure, marking a significant milestone in the development of this ambitious venture.
The Vande Bharat sleeper transit, currently under construction at the Bengaluru facility of BEML (Bharat Earth Movers Limited), promises to redefine overnight travel in India. With a focus on providing superior features and amenities, the sleeper transit is set to offer passengers a comfortable and convenient journey experience like never before.
According to reports from October 2023, BEML has already commenced production on the first Vande Bharat Express sleeper prototype. This self-propelled train set is designed to surpass the standards set by existing trains like the Rajdhani Express, raising the bar for overnight travel in the country. Shantanu Roy, CMD of BEML Ltd, expressed his pleasure in contributing to this monumental project, highlighting the company’s commitment to passenger comfort and top-notch facilities.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has revealed plans for the production of 10 Vande Bharat sleeper train sets, all of which will be manufactured by BEML. These trains, designed to operate at speeds of 160 kmph, will feature faster acceleration and deceleration, aiming to significantly reduce travel time on high-demand routes across the Indian Railways network.
The first prototype of the Vande Bharat sleeper train set is set to consist of 11 AC 3-tier coaches, 4 AC 2-tier coaches, and 1 AC 1st coach. Passenger-friendly amenities will include more comfortable berths with enhanced cushioning, sensor-based lighting in common areas, jerk-free rides with improved couplers, and better night lighting on the floor for easy movement in aisle areas.
