In an exciting development for rail enthusiasts and commuters alike, India’s railway network is all set to usher in a new era of innovation and convenience with the imminent launch of Vande Bharat sleeper trains and Vande Bharat metro systems.
Milind Deouskar, Secretary of the Railway Board, made this thrilling announcement during his address at the International Rail Conference, which was aptly themed ‘Innovation and Technology: Changing the Future of Railway,’ organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
Vande Bharat, originally introduced as a concept train, garnered immense admiration from the public when Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared images of the ‘Vande Bharat sleeper version’ on social media earlier this month. With a launch date expected in March 2024, this sleeper version promises a transformative travel experience for passengers.
Shantanu Roy, Chairman and Managing Director of BEML, a key partner in developing the first sleeper Vande Bharat trains alongside Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, and the Railway Board, added, “We will come out with a world-class unmatched travel experience with the first Vande Bharat sleeper train within this financial year itself.”
The Vande Bharat Express sleeper trains are designed to reach speeds of 160 kilometers per hour and will consist of 16 bogies, with the capacity to accommodate approximately 887 passengers.
Estimates suggest that the rail and metro segment, including Vande Bharat trains and Metro Tenders of Mumbai, Chennai, and Patna, could generate revenue of over Rs 2 lakh crore in the next seven years.
Indian Railways has laid out a production plan for 102 Vande Bharat Rakes, with 35 to be produced in 2022-2023 and 67 in 2023-2024, all designed within Indian Railways Production Units. Of these, 75 are planned as chair car versions, and the rest are envisioned as sleeper versions.
Furthermore, Indian Railways intends to manufacture 400 Vande Bharat train sleeper versions with three different technologies, for which tenders have already been issued to select technology partners within Indian Railways Production Units. An additional proposal to create 8,000 Vande Bharat coaches has been set forth under Budget 2023-24.
What’s particularly noteworthy is the burgeoning interest from both domestic and global players to participate in India’s rail sector. Many companies are now gearing up to not only ‘manufacture and make in India’ but also ‘design and develop’ in the country, aiming to expand their horizons into the international market.
Indian Railways’ ongoing commitment to completing and commissioning dedicated freight corridors, launching semi-high-speed trains such as the Vande Bharat, expanding railway tracks, and upgrading railway stations, has earned it accolades from industry leaders.
Dipankar Ghosh, Chairman of CII Railway Transport and Equipment Division, commended Indian Railways’ remarkable progress toward a 100 percent electrification and carbon-neutral goal by 2030, highlighting how ‘Make in India’ and the government’s unwavering focus on execution are game changers for both Indian Railways and the industry.
The imminent arrival of Vande Bharat sleeper trains and metros is not just a milestone for the Indian railway system, but a leap into the future of rail travel, promising comfort, speed, and efficiency for passengers.