Railway Minister dismisses delay reports in Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains over design issues

New Delhi, India (Metro Rail Today): Indian Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has rejected recent media reports that cited delays in the manufacturing of the Vande Bharat sleeper trains due to unresolved design clearance issues. The minister, in a media interaction on Thursday, clarified that the reports claiming the delay was a result of Indian Railways' demand for changes to the train’s design were baseless. He emphasized that the real challenge lay not in the design but in the manufacturing capabilities of the Russian firm Transmashholding (TMH), which has been contracted to produce the sleeper trains.

Background on the Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains

The Vande Bharat sleeper trains are part of India’s ambitious plan to modernize its railway network and provide a faster, more comfortable travel option for long-distance routes. A contract was signed between the Indian Railways and the Indo-Russian joint venture, Kinet Railway Solutions Limited, to supply 1,920 Vande Bharat sleeper coaches for the Indian Railways. The joint venture includes TMH, the largest manufacturer of locomotives and rolling stock in Russia, alongside Locomotive Electronic Systems (LES) and Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), both of which play important roles in the project.

The contract, signed on September 27, 2023, specified that the production of these sleeper coaches should begin by the end of 2024, with the first prototype expected within 24 months. The trains were expected to be manufactured at the Marathwada Rail Coach Factory (MRCF) in Latur, Maharashtra.

However, reports emerged indicating that the Indian Railways had made specific demands for modifications to the design, including adding pantry cars and toilets in the trains, which allegedly caused delays in the design approval process. This claim was promptly dismissed by Minister Vaishnaw, who clarified that the primary concern had been manufacturing capabilities rather than design issues.

Clarification from the Railway Minister

During his media interaction, Minister Vaishnaw emphasized that the delay was not related to the train's design. According to Vaishnaw, the problem arose because the Russian firm, which has significant experience manufacturing trains with a limited number of coaches (typically six to eight per set), did not have the capacity to produce longer trains with more coaches, a requirement for the Indian Railways due to the country's larger population and longer travel distances.

Vaishnaw explained that the firm was initially unfamiliar with the Indian specifications, which demanded train sets with up to 24 coaches, in contrast to the smaller configurations common in Russia. The Indian government had explicitly communicated to the Russian manufacturer that the designs should adhere to the requirements for 16, 20, and 24-coach trains for use on different routes, as per the country’s operational needs.

The Railway Minister reiterated that the Indian Railways had clearly outlined its expectations, and the issue of design was never a bottleneck. The delay, he stated, was mainly due to the Russian firm’s need for additional manufacturing resources, specifically more teams, to scale up production to meet the requirements for longer train sets. He further assured that the situation had been resolved, and the manufacturing of the Vande Bharat sleeper coaches would proceed shortly.

The Media Reports and Alleged Design Changes

The media reports had previously cited Transmashholding (TMH), which claimed that the Indian Railways demanded changes to the composition and internal features of the coaches. According to these reports, the Indian Railways insisted on adding four lavatory rooms per car, a pantry car in each train, and luggage zones at both ends of each train. In contrast, the original design of the sleeper trains only included three toilets per car, no pantry car, and a pantry area within each car, along with no designated luggage compartments.

TMH reportedly responded to these demands by making the necessary design adjustments but claimed that the process took longer than expected. The company also warned that these changes would escalate the project’s cost and require additional compensation from the Indian Railways. TMH’s CEO, Kirill Lipa, mentioned that the changes to the design, particularly the addition of more toilets and the inclusion of a pantry car, were not simple and required substantial engineering revisions. This, according to him, resulted in delays and increased costs.

The Role of the Indo-Russian JV: Kinet Railway Solutions Limited

The contract for manufacturing the Vande Bharat sleeper coaches was signed under the framework of a Manufacturing-Cum-Maintenance Agreement (MCMA) between the Indian Railways and the Indo-Russian joint venture Kinet Railway Solutions Ltd.. As part of the MCMA, Kinet will not only supply the coaches but also provide maintenance services for the trains over the next 35 years.

Kinet is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) created through a consortium of TMH, LES, and RVNL. The JV was tasked with delivering 1,920 coaches to the Indian Railways, with the trains expected to be produced at the Marathwada Rail Coach Factory in Maharashtra.

The MCMA stipulates that Kinet will manufacture and deliver the Vande Bharat sleeper coaches, which are intended to significantly enhance passenger comfort and travel speeds across long-distance routes in India. The trains are expected to run at speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour, providing a more efficient and modern alternative to the existing sleeper trains.

Financial Implications and Cost Escalation

One of the significant concerns raised by TMH was the potential cost escalation resulting from the design modifications demanded by the Indian Railways. The company had already made adjustments to the original design to accommodate the new requirements, but these changes come with a price. TMH has requested additional compensation from the Indian Railways to cover these unexpected costs.

Kirill Lipa, the CEO of TMH, has pointed out that the redesigning process takes time and increases the overall expense of the project. He further emphasized that any delays in finalizing the design and signing the necessary documents could lead to further postponements in the start of production, which would affect the project’s timeline.

While the Indian Railways has yet to approve the final design, officials have assured that the issue is under consideration and that the project is expected to proceed as planned. The first prototype of the Vande Bharat sleeper coaches is due within 24 months from the contract’s signing, and the production at the Marathwada facility is expected to begin shortly thereafter.

India-Russia Diplomatic Discussions

The matter of design changes and delays was also raised during an inter-governmental meeting between India and Russia. During the meeting, which included the presence of India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, the issue of the Vande Bharat sleeper train design was discussed. TMH expressed hope that the matter would be resolved amicably and swiftly to avoid further delays.

TMH CEO Kirill Lipa remarked that he believed the issues could be resolved quickly if handled at the appropriate level. While the company acknowledged the complexities involved in modifying the train's design, they remained optimistic that the changes could be made without significant disruptions.

The controversy surrounding the Vande Bharat sleeper trains appears to be more a matter of manufacturing adjustments and capacity constraints rather than design disagreements. Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has categorically denied reports of design clearance delays, stressing that the Russian firm was initially not equipped to handle the larger coach sizes required by India’s railway system.

The situation is still evolving, with the Indian Railways and TMH continuing discussions over the redesign, cost implications, and the timeline for the start of production. Despite the challenges, the project remains a cornerstone of India’s long-term railway modernization strategy, and efforts to resolve these issues are expected to continue.

As India strives to modernize its railway network, the Vande Bharat sleeper trains represent a key component of this vision, aiming to provide more comfortable, faster, and efficient travel for millions of passengers across the country.