Vande Bharat Sleeper Production Accelerates After Rs 1.8 Billion Order
RAILWAYS & METRO RAIL

Vande Bharat Sleeper Production Accelerates After Rs 1.8 Billion Order

The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) has awarded a contract worth Rs 1.8 billion (bn) to BEML to produce the sleeper variant of the Vande Bharat train as demand for faster, more comfortable rail travel grows in India. The order is intended to accelerate production of the sleeper configuration that entered passenger service earlier this year on the Guwahati–Howrah route. ICF and manufacturers are working to scale factory output to meet nationwide demand for the series.

Commercial services have shown strong patronage, with average occupancy rates of 98 per cent to over 100 per cent across various routes, and 162 Vande Bharat services are operating at present. The expansion has driven active orders for 260 sleeper trains across multiple manufacturers, strengthening the domestic supplier base and engineering capabilities in the rail sector. Officials describe the programme as central to modernising long-distance passenger offerings.

ICF Chennai remains a leading production centre and is currently handling an order for 50 sleeper trainsets configured with 24 coaches each. BEML has taken responsibility for manufacturing 10 sleeper trainsets under the recent contract, and one trainset was inducted into commercial operations in January 2026. The allocation of trains across manufacturers aims to shorten delivery timelines and expand service reach.

Kinet Railway Solutions, a consortium comprising Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd, Metrowagonmash and Locomotive Electronic Systems in a 25:70:5 ratio, has been entrusted with 120 sleeper trainsets of 16 coaches each, with the first prototype targeted for rollout by 31 March 2027 from the Marathwada Rail Coach Factory in Latur. A consortium of BHEL and Titagarh Rail Systems will build 80 trainsets under a 35-year annual maintenance agreement, with the first train targeted for rollout in the third quarter of the financial year 2027. The coordinated production plan is expected to expand sleeper Vande Bharat availability across the national network.

The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) has awarded a contract worth Rs 1.8 billion (bn) to BEML to produce the sleeper variant of the Vande Bharat train as demand for faster, more comfortable rail travel grows in India. The order is intended to accelerate production of the sleeper configuration that entered passenger service earlier this year on the Guwahati–Howrah route. ICF and manufacturers are working to scale factory output to meet nationwide demand for the series. Commercial services have shown strong patronage, with average occupancy rates of 98 per cent to over 100 per cent across various routes, and 162 Vande Bharat services are operating at present. The expansion has driven active orders for 260 sleeper trains across multiple manufacturers, strengthening the domestic supplier base and engineering capabilities in the rail sector. Officials describe the programme as central to modernising long-distance passenger offerings. ICF Chennai remains a leading production centre and is currently handling an order for 50 sleeper trainsets configured with 24 coaches each. BEML has taken responsibility for manufacturing 10 sleeper trainsets under the recent contract, and one trainset was inducted into commercial operations in January 2026. The allocation of trains across manufacturers aims to shorten delivery timelines and expand service reach. Kinet Railway Solutions, a consortium comprising Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd, Metrowagonmash and Locomotive Electronic Systems in a 25:70:5 ratio, has been entrusted with 120 sleeper trainsets of 16 coaches each, with the first prototype targeted for rollout by 31 March 2027 from the Marathwada Rail Coach Factory in Latur. A consortium of BHEL and Titagarh Rail Systems will build 80 trainsets under a 35-year annual maintenance agreement, with the first train targeted for rollout in the third quarter of the financial year 2027. The coordinated production plan is expected to expand sleeper Vande Bharat availability across the national network.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Real Estate

Landmark Group plans Rs 150 billion NCR expansion

Landmark Group has announced expansion plans across two real estate projects in the National Capital Region (NCR), with a combined estimated sales potential of Rs 150 billion. The projects include Landmark One, a 2.1 million sq ft corporate office development on Golf Course Extension Road in Gurugram, and a proposed integrated hospitality, commercial and residential development on Dwarka Expressway.Landmark One has an estimated sales value of Rs 40 billion. The project involves an estimated construction investment of Rs 10 billion, apart from the underlying land, currently valued at around Rs ..

Next Story
Real Estate

RMZ entities secure 5-Star ratings in GRESB 2026

RMZ has been recognised as a Global and Regional Sector Leader in the 2026 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) Real Estate Development Assessment, with three of its entities scoring 99.6 out of 100. RMZ Nexus LLP, Millenia Realtors Private Limited and Infralogix LLP secured 5-Star ratings in their respective categories across the Office and Industrial sectors.In the 2026 Development Benchmark, RMZ Nexus LLP and Millenia Realtors Private Limited were named Sector Leaders in the Office and Office Non-Listed categories in Asia. Infralogix LLP received the distinction in the Indust..

Next Story
Products

Schneider Electric deploys smart building systems at Jupiter Hospitals

Schneider Electric has partnered with Jupiter Hospitals to deploy connected building technologies aimed at improving energy efficiency, patient comfort and operational performance across its hospital campus. The deployment of its EcoStruxure Building Operation platform and SpaceLogic thermostats is helping the hospital achieve energy savings of up to 28 per cent, according to the company.With heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems accounting for nearly 60 per cent of the hospital's total energy consumption, improving efficiency while maintaining the conditions required for pa..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code