New Delhi, October 14 : The Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, is expected to finalise the design of the 24-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper train by November 10, 2026, more than four years after releasing its technical specifications.
A senior ICF official told PTI that the design had reached an advanced stage and was expected to be completed by the November deadline.
Following the finalisation, manufacturing of the prototype will begin, with completion targeted for May or June 2027. The prototype will subsequently undergo trials before the remaining trainsets are introduced into service.
ICF released the technical specifications for the 24-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper train on April 4, 2022. According to the specifications, each train will feature 19 AC three-tier coaches with 1,215 berths, four AC two-tier coaches with 192 berths, and one First AC coach with 24 berths.
The Railway Ministry has envisaged the manufacture of 50 trainsets in the 24-coach configuration at ICF Chennai. To support the project, propulsion equipment orders were placed with Medha and Alstom on December 17, 2024. Medha is expected to supply equipment for 33 trainsets, while Alstom will supply the remaining 17.
In February 2025, the Railway Ministry stated that full-scale production of the 24-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper trains was planned for the 2026–27 financial year.
Separately, the Railways had announced plans to manufacture 10 Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets in a 16-coach configuration in collaboration with ICF and BEML. One pair has already been introduced on the Howrah–Kamakhya route, while two other pairs are reportedly ready for launch. The remaining trainsets are at various stages of manufacturing.
In addition, Kinet Railway Solutions Ltd, an Indo-Russian joint venture involving Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd and Transmashholding, is scheduled to manufacture 120 16-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets at its factory in Maharashtra by the end of 2027.
Another 80 trainsets in the 16-coach configuration are planned to be manufactured by the BHEL-Titagarh consortium.
The expansion of the Vande Bharat Sleeper fleet is aimed at strengthening India's long-distance rail services and advancing domestic railway manufacturing capabilities.
