Chennai, 17 June (H.S.) : The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai is set to begin production of sleeper variants of the popular Vande Bharat Express trains. Having already delivered 88 out of 97 existing Vande Bharat trains, ICF will now collaborate with Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) to manufacture nine Vande Bharat sleeper trains, with an additional 24 sleeper variants slated for production in the next financial year.

The Railway Board has placed an initial order for 50 Vande Bharat sleeper trains in both 16 and 24 coach configurations as part of Indian Railways' broader plan to introduce 400 such trains across the country. These new sleeper trains are designed for long-distance overnight journeys, offering enhanced comfort and modern amenities like automatic doors, cushioned berths, onboard Wi-Fi, and aircraft-like interiors, aiming to redefine overnight rail travel with speeds up to 160 kmph.

The first prototype of a Vande Bharat sleeper train has already undergone successful trials, and more are expected to be delivered by the end of 2025.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary