Overnight train travel in India is set to become a more comfortable experience for long-distance passengers.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State for Railways V Somanna unveiled the prototype of India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper coach on September 1 at BEML’s facility in Bengaluru.
Vaishnaw said that the ticket pricing for the Vande Bharat sleeper will be on par with Rajdhani fares. “Vande Bharat sleeper is for all middle-class families. The fare structure will be benchmarked to Rajdhani and will be reasonable, keeping middle-class families in mind,” he said. Rajdhani Express is a premium, fully air-conditioned train service connecting New Delhi with state capitals across India.
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He said that passenger operations for the Vande Bharat sleeper train will commence within three months after trial runs. “Vande Bharat sleeper train would change the way the people travel and align with the aspirations of Indians. It is ideal for overnight journeys covering 800-1,200 km distance,” said Vaishnaw.
Vaishnaw said that there will be separate berths for train attendants on the train. “There will be a separate berth for train attendants so they can get some rest. The loco pilot’s cabin will also be air-conditioned and equipped with separate toilet for them.”
He said that the Vande Bharat sleeper train will feature virus control mechanisms, reduced jerks, noise, and vibrations. “Continuous improvements are being made based on passenger and staff feedback for all our new configurations: Vande Sleeper, Vande Chair Car, Vande Metro, and Amrit Bharat trains,” he said.
In May 2023, the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai placed an order with BEML Limited for the design and manufacture of 10 rakes of 16-car Vande Bharat sleeper train sets, which will have a maximum operational speed of 160 kmph (180 kmph during testing). The 16-coach Vande Bharat sleeper train will have 823 berths, including 11 3AC coaches (611 berths), 4 2AC coaches (188 berths), and 1 1AC coach (24 berths).
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BEML will soon dispatch the first train to the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai. ICF will handle the rake formation, final testing, and commissioning, which will take around 15-20 days. After this, the train will undergo mainline tests, including oscillation trials, which will last one or two months under the supervision of the Lucknow-based Railway Design and Standards Organization (RDSO). The trial runs are likely to be conducted in the North Western Railway zone for high-speed testing.
Aircraft-like features
Vande Bharat sleeper train features advanced amenities and facilities similar to those in aircraft. Each sleeper berth will be equipped with reading lights, charging sockets, a mobile/magazine holder, and a snack table. Vande Bharat sleeper trains will also feature amenities such as a hot water shower for 1st AC passengers. It also includes a dog box in the Driving Trailer Coach (DTC), which can accommodate dogs belonging to either passengers or the Railway Protection Force (RPF). There are LED lights below the ladders for passengers heading to the washroom at night when the lights are off. In the pantry car, there are ovens, bottle coolers, compartments for desserts, and boilers as well as compact dustbins.
Other features include stainless steel car bodies, crash-worthy passenger safety measures, GFRP interior panels, an aerodynamic design, a modular pantry, fire safety compliance (EN 45545), facilities for differently-abled passengers, automatic doors, sensor-based intercommunication, fire barrier doors, ergonomic toilet systems, integrated reading lights with USB charging, public announcement systems, and luggage rooms.
