260 Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains: In a huge step toward enhancing long-distance rail transport, the government of India plans to produce 260 sets of Vande Bharat Sleeper trains to cater to the needs of the millions of passengers every year across the nation.
In a written statement in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said: “For long distance travel, the sleeper variant of Vande Bharat Express has been indigenously designed and developed. Two such trains have already been manufactured. After extensive trials these are presently operational between Howrah and Kamakhya. A total of 260 rakes of Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets have been planned for manufacture.”
260 Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains: What’s New?
In a written reply to Parliament, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that Indian Railways is gearing up for a large-scale manufacturing programme to build 260 Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets. These are specially designed variations of the popular Vande Bharat Express, the country’s flagship semi-high-speed train but with sleeper berths and amenities suited for long-distance overnight journeys.
Manufacturing
The trainset production process will proceed through multiple phases which will verify quality and safety and functional readiness throughout every stage of work. The process begins with prototypes and then proceeds through testing and trials before reaching full production of the complete product line.
“This involves development of prototype, extensive testing and trials followed by series production,” Vaishnaw said. The Indian manufacturing companies BEML and Chennai’s Integral Coach Factory (ICF) and their technology partners are essential to this project because they will manufacture trains according to the standards of the “Make in India” initiative.
What Passengers Can Expect?
The trains operate at speeds which reach up to 180 km/h but their normal operating speed is 160 km/h which enables them to complete routes faster than traditional long-distance trains.
The system includes India’s KAVACH automatic train protection system which serves as the advanced safety system for the system.
The system uses jerk-free semi-permanent couplers together with anti-climbers which provide crash protection. Crashworthy coach design built to meet international standards.
Fire & Hygiene Safety
Fire-barrier doors and automatic aerosol-based fire-suppression systems.
UV-C lamp disinfection systems in AC units to deactivate harmful bacteria.
Passenger Convenience
- Centralised coach monitoring.
- Emergency talk-back units to contact staff or the loco pilot.
- CCTV surveillance, automatic plug doors, and wider sealed gangways for comfort and security.
Accessibility: Specialised lavatories and facilities for Divyangjan passengers.
The announcement marks an important achievement for Indian Railways modernization efforts. The Howrah-Kamakhya route started operating two Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets after completing extensive testing which allows the Indian Railways to begin nationwide sleeper service deployment for routes exceeding 1500 kilometers.
A new standard of Rail travel unfolds with Vande Bharat Sleeper, refined comfort and modern engineering for an India that’s always on the go. pic.twitter.com/17rc26tOaa
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) January 3, 2026
Indian Railways plans to achieve its operational goals through scheduled train introduction which will occur as needed and when equipment is ready for use.
