No Ripples at Top Speed: Vande Bharat Sleeper Passes Water Test in High-Speed Trial

India’s

upcoming Vande Bharat sleeper train has successfully completed high-speed trial runs, with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighting a simple but striking demonstration of its technological precision - glasses of water placed inside the train remained perfectly still even as it touched its top test speed of 180 kilometers per hour.Vaishnaw shared a video of the speed trial on social media on Tuesday, saying the train was tested by the Commissioner of Railway Safety on the Kota–Nagda section of the Indian Railways network. “Our own water test demonstrated the technological features of this new generation train,” he said, noting that not a single drop spilled during the high-speed run.

The test is being seen as a key milestone ahead of the planned launch of the Vande Bharat sleeper train, which is designed for long-distance overnight travel. Unlike the existing Vande Bharat chair car services, the sleeper variant will offer fully air-conditioned berths and enhanced amenities for night journeys.

Two prototype rakes of the sleeper version have been manufactured by BEML and are currently undergoing trials. While the train is designed for an operational speed of 160 kmph, officials said testing at 180 kmph is meant to assess safety, stability and ride comfort under higher stress conditions.Indian Railways plans a large-scale upgrade of long-distance travel, with more than 200 Vande Bharat sleeper trains expected to be introduced in the coming years. Several manufacturing programmes are underway, involving the Integral Coach Factory, private consortia, and joint ventures with international partners.

The sleeper train prototypes feature 16 coaches, including AC three-tier, AC two-tier and AC first-class coaches. Passenger facilities include cushioned berths, improved access to upper berths, low-intensity night lighting, CCTV surveillance, charging points, reading lamps and modern display systems.Advanced features such as bio-vacuum toilets, shower cubicles in first class, accessible facilities for persons with disabilities, and a baby care unit have also been built into the design. Safety systems include the indigenous KAVACH anti-collision technology and regenerative braking to improve energy efficiency.