**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Railways has announced plans to manufacture 260 rakes of Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets. This initiative involves phased development, including prototype creation, testing, and series production by BEML, Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, and technology partners. The goal is to enhance passenger experience with advanced safety features and amenities. This information was provided by the Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today, February 4th 2024.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Manufacturing and Development:**
* The Vande Bharat Sleeper Train manufacturing program will be executed in a phased manner.
* BEML, Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, and technology partners are involved in the development and production.
* **Service Induction:**
* Induction into regular passenger service will be phased based on demand and operational readiness.
* A total of 260 rakes are planned for manufacture.
* **Advanced Features and Amenities:**
* Jerk-Free Semi permanent couplers and Anti Climbers.
* Fitted with KAVACH.
* Higher acceleration with design/operating speed of 180/160 KMPH.
* Crashworthy Design of Car body complying with EN standards.
* Fire barrier doors at the end of each coach for compliance with fire safety standards.
* Improved fire safety – Aerosol based fire detection and suppression system in electrical cabinets and lavatories.
* Regenerative braking system for energy efficiency.
* Air conditioning units with indigenously developed UV-C lamp-based disinfection system.
* Centrally controlled Automatic Plug Doors and Fully Sealed wider gangways.
* CCTVs in all coaches.
* Emergency talk-back unit.
* Special lavatory for Divyangjan passengers in the driving coaches on each end.
* Centralized Couch Monitoring System.
* Ergonomically designed ladder for ease of climbing on to upper berths.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Passengers**
* **Impact**: Enhanced travel experience with improved safety features, comfortable amenities, and hygiene.
* **Action Required**: No immediate action required, but passengers can expect improved travel conditions on the new Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets once they are operational.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Railways, BEML, Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, and technology partners.**
* **Impact**: Responsibility for the successful phased execution of the manufacturing program.
* **Action Required**: Complete prototype, testing, and series production of 260 rakes of Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets, while incorporating the features and amenities mentioned in the document.
Key Entities Referenced
Vande Bharat Sleeper Train: A manufacturing program for sleeper trainsets, aimed at improving passenger travel experience and setting new safety benchmarks.
Ashwini Vaishnaw: Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology.
Ministry of Railways: The government ministry responsible for the development and implementation of railway policies.
Integral Coach Factory, Chennai: One of the entities responsible for the prototype development, trials, and series production of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains.
BEML: One of the entities responsible for the prototype development, trials, and series production of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains.
Ministry of Railways
Plan to Manufacture 260 Rakes of Vande Bharat
Sleeper Trainsets: Ashwini Vaishnaw
Posted On: 04 FEB 2026 4:59PM by PIB Delhi
The process of development of new rolling stocks like Vande Sleeper necessitates a holistic approach,
combining technological innovation, strategic planning and manufacturing to ensure a safe, reliable and
comfortable travel. This involves development of prototype, extensive testing and trials followed by series
production.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Train manufacturing programme is being executed in a phased manner through
prototype development, trials and series production by BEML & Integral Coach Factory, Chennai and
technology partners.
Induction of these trainsets into regular passenger service will be undertaken in a phased manner based on
demand and operational readiness. A total of 260 rakes of Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets have been
planned for manufacture.
To improve travel experience of the passengers and set new benchmarks in terms of safe and comfortable
journey, these train sets have been provided with modern coaches having advanced safety features and
passenger amenities like:
• Jerk-Free Semi permanent couplers and Anti Climbers
• Fitted with KAVACH.
• Higher acceleration with design/operating speed of 180/160 KMPH.
• Crashworthy Design of Car body complying with EN standards.
• Fire barrier doors at the end of each coach for compliance of fire safety standards.
• Improved fire safety – Aerosol based fire detection and suppression system in electrical cabinets and
lavatories.
• Regenerative braking system for energy efficiency.
• Air conditioning units provided with indigenously developed UV-C lamp-based disinfection system for
deactivating 99 % harmful bacteria from conditioned air to improve the hygiene standards inside the
passenger area.
• Centrally controlled Automatic Plug Doors and Fully Sealed wider gangways.
• CCTVs in all coaches.
• Emergency talk-back unit for communication between Passenger and Train Manager/Loco Pilot in case
of emergency.
• For Divyangjan passengers, special lavatory in the driving coaches on each end.• Centralized Coach Monitoring System for better condition monitoring of passenger amenities such as Air
conditioning, Saloon Lighting etc.
• Ergonomically designed ladder for ease of climbing on to upper berths.
This information was provided by the Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and
Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a written reply to a question in Lok
Sabha today.
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Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki
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