Vande Bharat Sleeper To Get 24 Coaches, ICF Begins Production Of Bigger Trainset
Vande Bharat Sleeper Gets A Major Upgrade
Indian Railways is preparing to introduce a much larger version of its Vande Bharat Sleeper trainwith the new trainset set to feature 24 coaches instead of the 16-coach configuration used for the initial sleeper trains.
The larger trainset is being developed at Chennai’s Integral Coach Factory (ICF) and is aimed at meeting the growing demand for premium overnight rail travel across India.
1,224 Passengers In One Train
The 24-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper will be capable of carrying around 1,224 passengers in a single train.
The proposed configuration will include:
- 17 AC 3-tier coaches
- 5 AC 2-tier coaches
- 1 AC First Class coach
- 1 AC Pantry car
The increased capacity will allow Indian Railways to carry hundreds of additional passengers on high-demand routes without necessarily adding another train service.
50 Trainsets Planned
ICF is expected to manufacture 50 trainsets of the 24-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper.
The move represents an important shift from the initial phase of developing and testing the sleeper version towards larger-scale production.
The new trainsets are also expected to incorporate improvements based on the experience gained from the first-generation Vande Bharat Sleeper trains.
Designed For Overnight Journeys
Unlike the original Vande Bharat trains, which primarily offer chair-car seating, the sleeper version has been designed specifically for long-distance overnight journeys.
The trains will offer multiple classes of AC sleeping accommodation along with modern passenger facilities.
These include charging points, reading lights, automatic doors, CCTV surveillance, improved luggage arrangements and modern bio-vacuum toilets.
The trains will also feature KavachIndia’s indigenous automatic train protection system.
Up To 160 Kmph
The Vande Bharat Sleeper has been designed for high-speed operation, with a planned operational speed of up to 160 kmph.
Testing has also been conducted at higher speeds.
However, passengers will not necessarily experience 160 kmph throughout their journey. Actual speeds will depend on track quality, signalling infrastructure, curves, railway traffic and other route-specific restrictions.
More Capacity For Busy Routes
The 24-coach configuration could be particularly useful on routes where demand for overnight AC accommodation is extremely high.
Instead of running multiple services to handle the same demand, Indian Railways can potentially deploy longer Vande Bharat Sleeper trains with significantly greater capacity.
This could also help improve the availability of premium sleeper accommodation on major intercity routes.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Vs Rajdhani
The sleeper version of Vande Bharat is expected to strengthen Indian Railways’ competition with established premium overnight services such as Rajdhani Express.
The combination of modern interiors, faster acceleration, improved passenger amenities and semi-high-speed capability could make Vande Bharat Sleeper an attractive alternative for long-distance travellers.
The introduction of 24-coach trains will make the proposition even stronger by increasing the number of passengers that can be accommodated in each service.
A Bigger Vande Bharat Network
The expansion to 24 coaches indicates that Indian Railways is increasingly focusing on capacity as it expands the Vande Bharat platform.
The next-generation sleeper trains could eventually become an important part of India’s long-distance railway network, particularly on routes where passenger demand is consistently high.
For passengers, the biggest advantage could be greater access to modern AC sleeper trains without sacrificing the convenience of overnight travel.
The Next Step For Indian Railways
The 24-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper represents more than simply adding eight extra coaches.
It signals India’s attempt to build a high-capacity, modern overnight rail system that combines speed, comfort and improved passenger amenities.
If production and deployment progress as planned, these larger trainsets could significantly change the experience of long-distance rail travel in India.
Summary
Indian Railways is preparing a 24-coach version of the Vande Bharat Sleeper, with the larger trainset capable of carrying around 1,224 passengers. The configuration will include AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier, First AC and pantry coaches. Integral Coach Factory in Chennai is expected to manufacture 50 such trainsets. Designed for long-distance overnight journeys, the trains will offer modern passenger amenities, Kavach safety technology and speeds of up to 160 kmph.