It was suggested that the arrival of 200 sleeper variant Vande Bharat trains may face delays, as negotiations regarding modifications to the design of coaches and train length under the nearly Rs 600 billion supply and maintenance contract are still ongoing. Sources familiar with the matter indicated that progress on the prototype for the sleeper trains, which was awarded as part of this contract, has also been slow due to these discussions.

Indian Railways is reportedly eager to acquire 24-coach trains, as outlined in the contract. A senior official, knowledgeable of the situation, explained that the contract terms allow for adjustments in the number of coaches per rake, with options for 12-, 16-, or 24-coach trains, without any increase in cost.

The contract to supply and maintain 200 sleeper trains was awarded to Kinet Railway Solutions, along with a consortium of Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) and Titagarh Rail Systems (TRS) in mid-2023. Though prototype trains were meant to be presented within a year, both suppliers have yet to commence work on them.

In a separate development, BEML and Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai were awarded a contract to supply 10 trains. Some coaches from the BEML-ICF prototype were showcased earlier in the month, with the first commercial rollout expected later this year.

Kinet Railway Solutions, a joint Indo-Russian venture, was tasked with supplying 120 sleeper variant trains at a cost of Rs 120 crore per 16-coach rake. The BHEL-TRS consortium is to supply 80 trains at the same cost. A spokesperson from Kinet Railway Solutions confirmed that discussions with Indian Railways are ongoing to finalise the changes requested. Once the scope change details are agreed upon, a revised project timeline will be set. Kinet remains committed to delivering the contract in full cooperation with Indian Railways.