Indian Railways is planning a major upgrade for overnight travel by developing a longer, 24-coach Vande Bharat sleeper train. This move aims to tackle the immense demand for long-distance tickets by adding hundreds of berths per journey.
A Leap in Capacity
Indian Railways
is set to expand its popular Vande Bharat platform with a new 24-coach sleeper train, a significant increase from the 16-coach versions that recently entered service. This longer format is a direct response to high passenger demand and aims to boost capacity on busy overnight routes. The new train is designed to accommodate 1,224 passengers, a substantial jump of nearly 49% from the 823 berths available on the 16-coach sleeper. This increase of 401 berths per train could play a crucial role in easing the ticket availability crisis that plagues many long-distance routes across the country. The plan is being spearheaded by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, which is currently in the design phase for this ambitious project.
How the New Configuration Works
The additional capacity comes from adding more coaches to the trainset. The proposed configuration for the 24-coach Vande Bharat sleeper includes 17 AC Three-Tier coaches, five AC Two-Tier coaches, and one AC First-Class coach. This is a notable increase from the 16-coach version, which has 11 AC Three-Tier coaches. A key addition to the 24-coach train is a dedicated AC pantry car. This will allow for better catering services, including the ability to heat and serve hot meals onboard, a feature aimed at enhancing the passenger experience on long journeys. The design also calls for more toilets to accommodate the larger number of passengers.
More Than Just More Berths
Beyond increasing numbers, the new sleeper trains promise a significant upgrade in passenger comfort and safety. The design philosophy focuses on providing a smooth, jerk-free, and quiet journey. This will be achieved through features like air-spring suspension, enhanced noise insulation, and disc brakes. Passenger amenities are also getting a modern overhaul, with ergonomically designed berths, integrated reading lights, and charging points for mobiles and laptops. Other planned features include WiFi-enabled infotainment systems, vacuum-assisted toilets, improved luggage space, and fully sealed gangways for easy movement between coaches. For safety, the trains will be equipped with the indigenous Kavach train collision avoidance system, CCTV surveillance, and advanced fire safety systems.
Timeline and Manufacturing
While the plan is concrete, passengers will need to wait a little longer to travel on these high-capacity trains. The 24-coach Vande Bharat sleeper is currently in the design stage at ICF in Chennai, with a target to finalise the design by November 2026. Officials expect a prototype of the new rake to be ready by mid-2027. Following successful trials, series production will begin. This development is part of a larger push by Indian Railways to modernise its fleet, with multiple entities involved in manufacturing Vande Bharat trains. The government has tasked ICF with producing 50 of these 24nd coach trainsets, while other ventures, including a consortium of Titagarh and BHEL and an Indondian JV called Kinet, are working on producing hundreds of 16nd coach sleeper trains.
