Kinet Railway Solutions, an Indo-Russian joint venture, revealed the design concept for the First AC coach of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train on Wednesday at the International Railway Equipment Exhibition (IREE) 2025 in New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam.
The joint venture, a partnership between Russian rolling stock leader TMH and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), is responsible for manufacturing and maintaining 120 Vande Bharat Sleeper trains, totaling 1,920 coaches for Indian Railways.
Spacious Design and Modern Comforts
The First AC four-berth compartment emphasizes passenger comfort and privacy. Features include a staircase for easy upper-berth access, built-in USB ports at every seat, individual reading lights, and smart storage compartments.
“Premium materials and soft tones combine with warm metallic accents to create an elegant cabin,” Kinet Railway Solutions said. “A traditional national-style motif, crafted with Indian artists using block printing, frames the space, adding cultural warmth. Even the area under the staircase doubles as a bedside nook for a book, phone, or watch — small details that make the journey feel personal.”
Production Milestones and Future Plans
At IREE 2025, Nishunk Garg, Project Director of Kinet Railway Solutions, noted that the Marathwada Rail Coach Factory in Latur is nearing the final stages of modernization, with production expected to accelerate by the end of 2025. Unveiling the First AC sleeper design marks a significant milestone in this effort.
The first prototype of the sleeper train is expected in June 2026. Maintenance depots are under construction in Jodhpur, with additional facilities planned for Delhi and Bengaluru.
The Ministry of Railways previously awarded Vande Bharat Sleeper train contracts to BEML, Kinet Railway Solutions, and a consortium of Titagarh Rail Systems and Bharat Heavy Engineering Limited (BHEL). The plan is to launch two trains simultaneously, with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirming that the inaugural service will commence only after the second train is fully ready. BEML is building the first train using ICF technology.
