In a significant boost to Indian Railways’ modernization plans, production of the much-anticipated Vande Bharat Sleeper trains has officially begun. The manufacturing unit, a collaborative effort between Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL) and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), was inaugurated at Uttarpara, West Bengal. This marks a new chapter for Indian Railways, bringing the nation’s first long-distance semi-high-speed sleeper trains closer to reality.

Under this major initiative, 80 Vande Bharat Sleeper coaches will be manufactured, offering passengers a new level of comfort and speed for overnight journeys.

The Vande Bharat Sleeper trains will introduce features never before seen in Indian railway services:

• Indigenous Technology: Designed and manufactured using cutting-edge Indian engineering.

• Smart Onboard Systems: Enhanced travel experience with smart features for lighting, air conditioning, and safety monitoring.

• Superior Safety and Comfort: Redesigned interiors and sleeper layouts aimed at providing passengers with unmatched comfort during long-distance travel.

This innovation will allow passengers to experience semi-high-speed travel while enjoying the comfort of sleeper berths, a significant upgrade from the current Vande Bharat trains, which are limited to seating arrangements.

Indian Railways has awarded a ₹24,000 crore contract to the TRSL-BHEL alliance for the production and maintenance of these trains over the next 35 years. The Uttarpara plant is set to be the center of this ambitious project, reinforcing the government’s commitment to the Make in India initiative.

Key features of the Uttarpara production facility include:

• The only plant in India capable of manufacturing both stainless steel and aluminum coaches under one roof.

• A current manufacturing capacity of 300 coaches per year, scalable up to 850 coaches per year if needed.

This scale of production is expected to revolutionize India’s sleeper train offerings and create thousands of jobs in the region.

The inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of key dignitaries including TRSL Vice Chairman and MD Umesh Chaudhary, BHEL Director Bani Verma, and several senior officials from both companies. The launch of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train project at Uttarpara is being hailed as a transformative step in India’s railway modernization journey.

This development is set to redefine overnight rail travel, offering passengers faster, safer, and more comfortable journeys while promoting indigenous manufacturing capabilities.