Indian Railways plans to manufacture eight additional sleeper rakes by March 2026

New Delhi, India (Metro Rail Today): India’s first semi-high-speed sleeper train, the Vande Bharat Sleeper, has moved a step closer to commercial launch with the second rake now ready and positioned at Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT), Bengaluru. The rake has been manufactured by BEML Limited at its Bengaluru facility and has been officially handed over to Indian Railways for further trials and approvals.

Second rake stationed at SMVT Bengaluru

According to officials, the rake reached SMVT on Monday morning and is expected to remain there for two to three days before further procedures such as detailed inspections or trial planning are undertaken.

A senior Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, official confirmed:

the second Vande Bharat Sleeper rake has successfully arrived and only minor technical checks remain before further steps are finalized.

Designed for long-distance overnight travel

Unlike existing Vande Bharat chair car trains that primarily serve daytime intercity routes, the new Vande Bharat Sleeper is tailored for:

• overnight journeys

• routes above 800–1,000 km

• enhanced passenger comfort

The train is designed for a maximum speed of 160 kmph with faster acceleration and braking characteristics. However, the operational speed will depend on track readiness, as only select stretches in India currently support speeds beyond 150 kmph.

Coach composition and classes

The rake stationed in Bengaluru comprises 16 coaches, featuring:

• AC First Class

• AC 2-Tier

• AC 3-Tier

The sleeper version aims to bring premium, modern overnight travel on par with international standards while replacing aging Rajdhani and other long-distance trains in phases.

Possible routes under Northern Railway zone

While the first route has not yet been officially declared, officials indicated that the Northern Railway zone will operate the inaugural service.

Potential coverage includes key cities such as:

• Delhi

• Ambala

• Jaipur

• Jodhpur

• Moradabad

• Kanpur

across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir.

Minor rectifications under review

Officials reiterated that there are no issues with the design, structure, or exterior of the train. Only minor rectification work is being examined.

“We have identified some small rectification work, which will be carried out in future rakes. The first two rakes are fit for operation,” an official said.

Another trial run has not been ruled out before certification.

Production plan and launch timeline

Indian Railways plans to manufacture eight additional sleeper rakes by March 2026, bringing the total to 10 rakes, adequate to launch five sleeper services initially.

Although the Railway Board has not announced an official launch date, officials hinted that the train could debut as a New Year gift, subject to approvals.

Project faced delays, now nearing final stage

The Vande Bharat Sleeper was originally targeted for launch:

• first in December last year

• later shifted to September–October this year

Despite delays, authorities remain confident that the project is now in its final pre-deployment phase before commercial operations begin.