Vande Bharat sleeper train vs Rajdhani Express: A comparison

New Delhi: The Vande Bharat Express is a superfast express and is a flagship train of the Indian Railways. The introduction of the reserved, air-conditioned train connecting different cities in the country has changed the face of railways in this country. While Vande Bharat was launched as a chair car train, now, Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF), has unveiled the prototype of Vande Bharat’s sleeper version.

The new Vande Bharat sleeper train is said to be a game-changer when comes to the overnight travel of passengers of the Indian Railways. According to a report by News9 Live, Railway Board officials have earlier said that while the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express will be slightly slower than its chair car counterpart, the train will give excellent efficiency and comfort. The train will have a total of 16 coaches—11 Third AC, four Second AC, and one First AC.

According to a report by the Times of India, the new Vande Bharat sleeper train will be even better than the Rajdhani Express, which is one of the premium trains in the country. In this article, we will take a look at the comparison between the Vande Bharat sleeper train and the Rajdhani Express.

How is the Vande Bharat sleeper train better than Rajdhani Express?

Speed

The speed of the Vande Bharat sleeper train can reach up to 160 kmph. It is much more than the speed of the Rajdhani Express and ensures shorter travel time.

Improved berths

The berths in the Vande Bharat sleeper train are much better than those of the Rajdhani Express. According to the Indian Railways, there would be extra cushioning on the side of each berth in Vande Bharat sleeper trains for the comfort of the passengers.

Upper berths

Compared to the Rajdhani Express, the Vande Bharat sleeper train will have a special ladder which will help passengers easily access the middle and upper berths.

No dust

The Vande Bharat sleeper train will have a fully-sealed gangway, much like its chair car counterparts. It will keep the environment inside the train free of dust.

Better safety

According to a report by the Times of India, the Vande Bharat sleeper trains will use austenitic stainless steel which will lead to increased durability and safety compared to the Rajdhani Express.

Doors

Compared to the Rajdhani Express, the Vande Bharat sleeper train will have automatic doors for entry and exit. Also, the coaches will be interconnected by automatic doors. All these will increase the safety of the passengers.

Toilets

Unlike the Rajdhani Express, the Vande Bharat sleeper train will have a bio-vacuum toilet system with modular, free-of-touch settings. There will be even a shower cubicle in the AC 1 coaches.

Fire safety

According to the TOI report, the Vande Bharat sleeper trains will have better fire safety standards than the Rajdhani Express. The former will comply with EN 45545 HL3 fire safety standards and it will ensure that all non-metallic components will meet the standards. It will also have a fire barrier wall for luggage compartments.

Crashworthiness

Crashworthiness can be defined as a vehicle’s internal systems and components to protect the occupants from injury when a crash takes place. As per the TOI report, the Vande Bharat sleeper train, among other features, will have front and intermediate side crash buffers. It will also have front and intermediate couplers with deformation tubes.

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