Indian Railways is set to expand its premium long-distance network with more Vande Bharat Sleeper services, with Chennai’s Integral Coach Factory (ICF) set to manufacture 50 new trainsets. The upcoming
trainsets will each comprise 24 coaches, marking a significant increase from the 16-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper train currently in operation, as reported by NDTV.
The expansion is aimed at meeting growing demand for sleeper services on overnight and long-distance journeys. Since its launch, the Vande Bharat Express has primarily operated as a chair car service on daytime routes, while passengers have sought more sleeper options for longer journeys.
The new trains are expected to increase passenger capacity and allow the Railways to introduce Vande Bharat Sleeper services on more long-distance routes across the country.
24-Coach Trains To Carry More Passengers
Each new Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset will have 24 coaches. A train of this size is expected to carry around 1.5 times as many passengers as the existing 16-coach sleeper train.
According to ICF General Manager Manish Agarwal, the production drawings for the indigenous 24-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets have been completed. The drawings cover the coach structure, systems used to connect the coaches and equipment that will be installed underneath the coaches.
The additional capacity is expected to support the Railways’ plans to expand premium sleeper services on more overnight and intercity routes.
Final Coach Composition Yet To Be Announced
Indian Railways has not yet officially announced the final coach composition of the new 24-coach trainsets. However, reports suggest that a possible configuration could include 17 AC 3-tier coaches, five AC 2-tier coaches, one AC First Class coach and one pantry car.
The final configuration will be confirmed by the Indian Railways.
Howrah-Kamakhya Currently Has Vande Bharat Sleeper Service
At present, the Vande Bharat Sleeper service operating in the country runs between Howrah and Kamakhya. The existing train has 16 coaches, comprising 11 AC 3-tier coaches, four AC 2-tier coaches and one AC First Class coach.
The proposed 24-coach trainsets would therefore represent a substantial increase in capacity compared with the existing sleeper service.
The Indian Railways is expected to consider more long-distance routes for Vande Bharat Sleeper services as the additional trainsets become available.
Amrit Bharat 3.0 To Get AC Coaches
ICF has also provided an update on the next generation of Amrit Bharat Express trains. The Amrit Bharat 3.0 variant is expected to feature AC, general and sleeper class coaches, potentially giving passengers a wider range of travel options at more affordable price points.
The existing Amrit Bharat trains primarily comprise general and sleeper coaches. The addition of AC coaches in the next generation could allow the service to cater to a broader range of passengers while offering improved comfort.
The latest developments at ICF indicate that production planning for both the Vande Bharat Sleeper trains and next-generation Amrit Bharat Express is progressing, paving the way for an expanded range of modern long-distance rail services in India.
