In a bid to boost tourism in Kerala, the Indian Railways has shared its plans for the Vande Bharat sleeper trains. The plan is to increase passenger capacity while keeping the overall project cost unchanged. Earlier, the plan was to develop 200 Vande Bharat trains, each with 16 coaches. But, the new agreement talks about development of 133 trains, each with 24 coaches.
Major highlights
Earlier this year, a contract for building 120 sleeper trains was awarded to CJSC Transmashholding from Russia and Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL). However, under the revised terms, the number of trains to be delivered by this consortium will be reduced to 80. Similarly, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), in partnership with Titagarh Wagons, was initially tasked with constructing 80 trains but will now deliver only 53.
The changes are part of the railways’ strategy to deploy these trains on long-distance routes, where the additional coaches will help spread the operational costs over more passengers.
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According to Harshit Kapadia, Vice President at Elara Securities, increasing the number of coaches is a practical solution for long routes. Each coach will accommodate approximately 80 passengers, which means around 600 more passengers per train. This higher capacity will help reduce the cost per passenger, making long-distance train travel more affordable.
The Vande Bharat Express, which was launched in February 2019, is part of Indian Railways’ broader modernization efforts. It is available in three versions: chair car, sleeper, and metro. While the chair car version serves shorter routes, the sleeper version is designed for longer journeys between 800 to 1,200 kilometers. The sleeper version was initially designed with 16 coaches, including AC three-tier, two-tier, and first-class compartments.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently unveiled a prototype of the Vande Bharat sleeper coach, marking a significant step toward launching these trains for long-haul travel. Trials for 10 trains, each with a 16-coach configuration, are expected to begin soon, with passenger services likely to start by December 2024.
While there have been delays, the revised contract will not affect the timeline or budget, ensuring the continued rollout of modern, passenger-friendly trains across India. This project reflects Indian Railways’ commitment to enhancing long-distance travel by optimizing resources and offering more comfortable, cost-effective travel options for passengers.
