New Delhi: The Indian Railways has planned to manufacture 260 rakes of the Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets as part of its push to modernise long-distance passenger travel and enhance safety and comfort, Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
In a written reply, the Minister said that developing new rolling stock like the Vande Bharat Sleeper requires a holistic approach combining technological innovation, strategic planning and advanced manufacturing processes. The programme involves prototype development followed by extensive testing and trials before moving into series production to ensure safe, reliable and comfortable operations.
The manufacturing of the Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets will be carried out in a phased manner by BEML and the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, in collaboration with technology partners. Their induction into regular passenger services will also be gradual, depending on passenger demand and operational readiness.
According to the Minister, the sleeper version of the Vande Bharat trains has been designed to significantly improve the passenger travel experience and set new benchmarks in safety and comfort. The modern coaches are equipped with jerk-free semi-permanent couplers and anti-climbers, the KAVACH train collision avoidance system, and a crashworthy car body design compliant with European (EN) standards.
The trainsets are designed for higher acceleration, with a design speed of 180 kmph and an operating speed of up to 160 kmph. Enhanced fire safety measures have also been incorporated, including fire barrier doors at the end of each coach and aerosol-based fire detection and suppression systems in electrical cabinets and lavatories.
Passenger amenities include a regenerative braking system for improved energy efficiency, centrally controlled automatic plug doors, fully sealed wider gangways and CCTV cameras in all coaches. The air-conditioning units are fitted with indigenously developed UV-C lamp-based disinfection systems, capable of deactivating up to 99 per cent of harmful bacteria to improve onboard hygiene.
Additionally, the trainsets will feature emergency talk-back units for direct communication between passengers and the train manager or loco pilot, a centralised coach monitoring system for real-time tracking of passenger amenities, and ergonomically designed ladders for easier access to upper berths. Special lavatories for Divyangjan passengers have also been provided in the driving coaches at both ends of the train.
