Vande Bharat Sleeper Train With Ultimate Passenger Comfort, Safety Features to Undergo Field Trials Soon

The first prototype of the Vande Bharat sleeper trainset has been manufactured and is set to undergo field trials soon, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday. The timeline for its rollout will depend on the successful completion of these trials.

Enhanced Comfort and Safety Features

Designed for long and medium-distance journeys, the sleeper train variant comes equipped with state-of-the-art amenities. These include the Kavach automatic train protection system, adherence to the latest fire-safety standards, crashworthy semi-permanent couplers, and a regenerative braking system for improved energy efficiency. Additionally, the trains promise quicker acceleration and deceleration, enhancing overall travel speed.

Expanding the Vande Bharat Network

The Railway Minister also highlighted the operational growth of Vande Bharat trains. Currently, 136 services featuring chair-car coaches are operational across India, with 16 of them catering to Tamil Nadu. The longest Vande Bharat route connects Delhi to Varanasi, covering 771 kilometers.

Future Plans for Expansion
Vaishnaw emphasized that the introduction of new services, including the sleeper train variant, will be a continuous process. Factors such as traffic demand, operational feasibility, and resource availability will play a critical role in determining future expansions.