Titagarh Rail Systems and BHEL to set up JV for Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Maintenance

New Delhi, India (Metro Rail Today): Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL) and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) have announced plans to establish a joint venture (JV) for the long-term maintenance of Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets, marking another significant development in India’s flagship semi-high-speed train programme.

The proposed JV will function as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) responsible for fulfilling the maintenance obligations of the Vande Bharat Sleeper trains to be supplied by the TRSL–BHEL consortium under the Make in India initiative aligned with the Government of India’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat programme.

The decision was approved by the Board of Directors of Titagarh Rail Systems Limited during its meeting on March 19, 2026, according to a regulatory filing by the company.

₹24,000 Crore Contract for Sleeper Trainsets

The TRSL–BHEL consortium has secured a major contract to manufacture 80 Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets, with each train comprising 16 coaches. The overall project value is estimated to be close to ₹24,000 crore, including the long-term maintenance of the trains for a period of 35 years.

Titagarh Rail Systems has also set an internal target of March 31 to complete the car bodies for the first rake of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train. The consortium is aiming to roll out the first train by the third quarter of the financial year 2027, marking a major milestone in the development of India’s next-generation long-distance trainsets.

In its exchange filing, Titagarh Rail Systems stated that the board has approved the formation of the JV with BHEL for meeting maintenance commitments under the Maintenance-cum-Manufacturing Agreement (MCMA) associated with the project.

BHEL, in a separate filing, confirmed that the JV agreement will be finalized after obtaining clearance from the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM). The company noted that further disclosures regarding the joint venture will be made once the agreement is formally signed.

Commenting on the development, Mrs. Mamta Shah, MD & CEO, Urban Infra Group, said, “The Vande Bharat Sleeper programme represents a major step in India’s transition toward modern long-distance trainsets. Establishing dedicated maintenance joint ventures will be critical for ensuring reliability, lifecycle performance and operational efficiency over the long term.”

Multi-Vendor Strategy for Vande Bharat Sleeper Programme

The Ministry of Railways has adopted a multi-vendor approach for the manufacturing of Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets to accelerate production and strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities.

Apart from the TRSL–BHEL consortium, contracts have also been awarded to BEML and Kinet Railway Solutions, a joint venture between Russian rolling stock major Transmashholding (TMH) and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL).

This diversified procurement strategy is expected to create a competitive manufacturing ecosystem and support faster deployment of sleeper variants of the Vande Bharat trains across the Indian Railways network.

Expanding the Vande Bharat Ecosystem

India has already begun introducing sleeper versions of its flagship semi-high-speed trains. The Howrah–Kamakhya–Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper train, launched in January 2026, was developed by BEML using technology from the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.

The new generation of sleeper trainsets is expected to offer improved passenger comfort, modern interiors, and faster journey times for long-distance overnight travel.

The TRSL–BHEL partnership highlights the growing role of public-private collaboration in India’s railway manufacturing sector. By combining Titagarh’s expertise in rolling stock manufacturing with BHEL’s engineering and electrical systems capabilities, the consortium aims to deliver technologically advanced trainsets supported by long-term maintenance infrastructure.

As Indian Railways continues to modernize its fleet with Vande Bharat trainsets across both chair car and sleeper configurations, such partnerships are expected to accelerate the development of indigenously designed, high-performance trains capable of serving the country’s rapidly expanding passenger network.