Indian Railways has achieved a key milestone in its push for self-reliant rail technology with the successful completion of the final high-speed safety trial of the indigenously developed Vande Bharat sleeper train, officials said on Wednesday. The trial was conducted under the supervision of the Commissioner of Railway Safety on the Kota–Nagda section, where the train achieved a top speed of 180 kmph.

While no fresh launch date was announced, the development brings the long-distance sleeper variant closer to commercial operations after missing several earlier deadlines. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had earlier indicated that the train was expected to be launched in December 2025. On December 30, he shared a video of the trial on X, highlighting a water-glass stability test in which glasses filled with water remained steady without spillage even at high speed.

According to officials, the CRS-supervised trial involved comprehensive technical evaluations, including ride stability, oscillation and vibration behaviour, braking and emergency braking performance, safety systems and other critical parameters. The train’s performance at high speed was found to be fully satisfactory, and the trial was formally declared successful.

The 16-coach Vande Bharat sleeper train is designed for long-distance travel and is equipped with modern passenger amenities. These include comfortable sleeper berths, advanced suspension systems, automatic doors, modern toilets, fire detection and safety monitoring systems, CCTV-based surveillance, digital passenger information displays and energy-efficient technologies aimed at delivering a safe and comfortable travel experience.

Officials said the successful completion of the high-speed CRS trial marks a major technical achievement and clears the path for the introduction of Vande Bharat Sleeper services. The milestone also reflects Indian Railways’ focus on innovation, safety and indigenous manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.