Indian Railways is gearing up to introduce sleeper coaches to its Vande Bharat trains by March 2024. The plan kicks off with the addition of an initial fleet of 10 sleeper class Vande Bharat trains. These trains are expected to debut on routes such as Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah, with trial runs slated for April.
During the presentation of the interim budget on February 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled the government's initiative to upgrade 40,000 regular railway bogies to meet Vande Bharat standards. This move aims to enhance passenger safety, convenience, and comfort.
Manufacturing of the sleeper train sets for Vande Bharat trains is currently underway. These trains, designed for long-distance travel, operate as electric multiple units. They promise improved efficiency and reduced travel times, aiming to outperform even the Rajdhani trains.
The Vande Bharat sleeper trains will offer a combination of sleeping berths, including both AC and non-AC coaches, totaling between 16 to 20 coaches. Tailored for overnight journeys, these trains will feature various amenities to ensure passenger comfort throughout.
An Indian Railways official stated, "The sleeper Vande Bharat train will run on routes with overnight travel. Its inaugural route will likely be on one of the main trunk routes such as Delhi-Mumbai or Delhi-Howrah, expected to be operational by April."
Furthermore, the official added, "The Vande Bharat (VB) sleeper coaches, being designed at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, will reduce travel time by two hours, making them the fastest trains in the Indian Railways' system."
In addition to the long-distance sleeper trains, discussions are underway regarding the potential introduction of Vande Bharat Metro services. Prototypes of these metro-style trains are expected to be unveiled soon, exploring the possibility of extending the Vande Bharat concept to urban transit systems.
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