Delays expected in launching of Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains amid ongoing design negotiations

New Delhi, India (Metro Rail Today): The much-anticipated arrival of 200 sleeper variant Vande Bharat trains is likely to face delays as discussions regarding modifications to the train coaches and their configurations continue. Sources familiar with the negotiations indicate that the finalization of a nearly ₹60,000 crore supply and maintenance contract has yet to be achieved.

The Indian Railways is particularly interested in procuring 24-coach trains as stipulated in the contract. A senior official involved in the discussions revealed that the contract terms allow for flexibility in coach composition, enabling the Railways to request 12-coach, 16-coach, or 24-coach configurations without incurring any additional costs.

The contract for the 200 Vande Bharat sleeper trains was awarded in mid-2023 to Kinet Railway Solutions, along with a consortium comprising Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) and Titagarh Rail Systems (TRS). However, progress on the prototype of the sleeper train has been slow, with suppliers yet to initiate work.

Initially, the prototype trains were expected to be showcased within a year of the contract award. However, due to ongoing discussions, the timeline for this unveiling remains uncertain. Kinet Railway Solutions, an Indo-Russian joint venture, has been assigned to deliver 120 Vande Bharat sleeper trains, with each 16-coach rake costing approximately ₹120 crore. The BHEL-TRS consortium is responsible for supplying the remaining 80 trains at the same price point.

A spokesperson for Kinet Railway Solutions acknowledged the ongoing negotiations with the Indian Railways to finalize the changes to the project scope. “Once all details are agreed upon, we will establish a new project timeline that reflects these updates. Kinet is fully committed to executing the contract in collaboration with Indian Railways,” the spokesperson stated, ET reported.

In a related development, BEML and the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai have been awarded a contract for supplying 10 trains on a nomination basis. Earlier this month, some prototypes of the BEML-ICF train were showcased, with the first batch expected to enter commercial service later this year.

As the situation unfolds, the Indian Railways remains optimistic about the delivery of these modern sleeper trains, which promise to enhance passenger comfort and travel experience. However, stakeholders are eagerly awaiting the resolution of design negotiations to keep the project on track.

For more updates on the Vande Bharat sleeper trains and other Indian Railways projects, stay tuned.