Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
| Photo Credit: ANI

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has dismissed media reports claiming delay in starting the manufacturing process for Vande Bharat sleeper trains due to design clearance issues.

During a media interaction on Thursday (November 28, 2024), Mr. Vaishnaw said that design was never an issue with the Russian firm roped in to manufacture these train sets.

Earlier, a section of media quoting officials from the Russian company Transmashholding (TMH) reported that Indian Railways demanded toilets and a pantry car in the train which necessitated tweaking the trains’ design.

The reports further said the firm addressed Railway Ministry’s concerns with a change in design and sent it to the ministry for clearance, which, however, hasn’t responded with its consent.

As per the contracts, the firm is supposed to manufacture 1,920 sleeper coaches.

However, ministry sources said these reports were baseless as the real issues were with regard to the limited manufacturing capabilities of the firm because in Russia, trains have less number of coaches as compared to India.

“The firm doesn’t have experience to manufacture a train set of more than six or eight coaches. We had clearly told them that we will give them design of Vande Bharat to follow. What they need is more manufacturing teams,” Mr. Vaishnaw said.

He added, “I want to clarify that when the contract was signed, it clearly said that they have to manufacture train sets with coaches 16/20/24.”

According to the minister, the firm was clearly told that India has a bigger population so on some routes 24 coaches were needed, while 16 coaches were required on other routes.

Ministry sources said that since trains normally have six to eight coaches in Russia due to less population, the firm wanted to know why we need a train set with 16, 20 or 24 coaches.

The sources said issues have been resolved and the work will start very soon.

The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai is gearing up to launch the much-anticipated sleeper version of the Vande Bharat train. In newly released pictures, we see the train’s interiors, luxurious design and advanced features.

This new addition expands the Vande Bharat portfolio, which includes chair car variants and metro trains. Designed for overnight travel, the Vande Bharat sleeper is expected to operate on routes covering distances between 800 km and 1,200 km.

The Vande Bharat Sleeper Train has multiple features to enhance passenger comfort and safety. The train is fully air-conditioned and consists of 16 coaches to accommodate up to 820 passengers. With a top speed of 160 kilometres per hour, the new train will significantly reduce travel times.

U Subba Rao, General Manager of ICF, highlighted the state-of-the-art amenities that set the Vande Bharat sleeper apart from conventional trains. 

Key Features:

• Sensor-Activated Doors: Passengers can touch the door to open it.
• Touch-Free Bio-Vacuum Toilets: These facilities ensure hygiene and convenience.
• Interconnecting Doors: Designed for easy access.
• Touch-Free Bio-Vacuum Toilets: These facilities prioritise hygiene and allow passengers to use the restroom without physical contact.
• Talk-Back Units: These units improve communication between passengers and train attendants.
• Flight-Style Attendant Buttons: Located in first-class compartments, these buttons allow easy access to upper berths.

Safety measures

The Vande Bharat Sleeper Train has an emergency brake system, among other advanced security features. The train also includes the “Kavach” anti-collision system and anti-climbing technology, which prevent coaches from piling on top of each other during accidents.

Testing phase

Before its official launch, the train will undergo rigorous testing. Over the next two months, it will be tested at speeds ranging from 90 kmph to 180 kmph, with an emphasis on evaluating its safety and security features. This testing will take place at the Lucknow RDSO and Western Railway facilities, with the completion date set for November 15.