After 16-coach launch, Railways plans 24-coach Vande Bharat sleeper with pantry
Indian Railways is planning to introduce a 24-coach version of the Vande Bharat sleeper train to accommodate long-distance overnight travel. The new design will include a pantry car and increased toilet capacity, with a target rollout date in 2027.
Why it matters
This expansion is part of a broader effort to modernize India's massive rail network and improve passenger comfort for long-haul journeys.
After rolling out 16-coach Vande Bharat sleeper trains, Indian Railways is now eyeing a 24-coach train set that will cater to longer distance overnight journeys. The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Chennai has been tasked with manufacturing 50 Vande Bharat sleeper trains that will have 24 coaches.Indian Railways is expected to introduce more than 200 Vande Bharat sleeper trains over the coming years as it seeks to transform long-distance rail travel. Three major manufacturing projects are underway.BEML, with support from ICF, is producing 10 sleeper trainsets, while the Indo-Russian joint venture Kinet has been assigned the task of manufacturing another 120. A consortium of Titagarh and BHEL will produce 80 Vande Bharat sleeper trains.
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