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India to Roll Out 260 Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains with Enhanced Safety & Comfort

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has informed Parliament that a plan to manufacture 260 Vande Bharat Sleeper train rakes is now finalised. These modern trains will be introduced in a phased manner, contingent on operational readiness and passenger demand. They will feature advanced safety systems like KAVACH, a crashworthy design, and an operating speed of 160 kmph. Passenger amenities will include improved hygiene with UV-C air disinfection, ergonomic ladders, CCTV, and enhanced fire safety systems.

Key Points: 260 Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains Production Plan Finalised

  • 260 sleeper train rakes planned
  • Phased induction based on demand
  • Speed of 160 kmph with KAVACH safety
  • Advanced hygiene and passenger amenities
2 min read

Plan firmed up to produce 260 Vande Bharat sleeper trains: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Indian Railways to manufacture 260 Vande Bharat sleeper train rakes with advanced safety, 160 kmph speed, and modern passenger amenities.

"A plan to manufacture 260 rakes of Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets has been firmed up - Ashwini Vaishnaw"

New Delhi, Feb 4

A plan to manufacture 260 rakes of Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets has been firmed up for Indian Railways, and these will be inducted into regular passenger service in a phased manner based on demand and operational readiness, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament on Wednesday.

The Vande Bharat Sleeper Train manufacturing programme is being executed in a phased manner through prototype development, trials and series production by BEML & Integral Coach Factory, Chennai and technology partners, the minister said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha

The process of development of new rolling stock like Vande Bharat Sleeper coaches necessitates a holistic approach, combining technological innovation, strategic planning and manufacturing to ensure a safe, reliable and comfortable travel. This involves development of a prototype, extensive testing, and trials followed by series production, he added.

To improve the travel experience of the passengers and set new benchmarks in terms of safe and comfortable journeys, these train sets have been provided with modern coaches having advanced safety features and passenger amenities. These include jerk-free semi-permanent couplers and anti-climbers fitted with KAVACH, higher acceleration with an operating speed of 160 KMPH and a crashworthy design of car body complying with EN standards.

Fire barrier doors at the end of each coach for compliance with fire safety standards, improved fire safety - an aerosol-based fire detection and suppression system in electrical cabinets and lavatories, and a regenerative braking system for energy efficiency are among the other safety features for these trains.

Besides, the coaches will be fitted with air conditioning units provided with an indigenously developed UV-C lamp-based disinfection system for deactivating 99 per cent harmful bacteria from conditioned air to improve the hygiene standards inside the passenger area, and there will be centrally controlled automatic plug doors and fully sealed wider gangways.

Ergonomically designed ladders for ease of climbing onto upper berths, CCTVs in all coaches, as well as an emergency talk-back unit for communication between passenger and train manager/loco pilot, will also be provided in these trains, the minister added.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Hope the focus on 'phased manner based on demand' means they will prioritize busy routes like Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Kolkata first. The safety features with KAVACH are very reassuring for overnight travel.
R
Rohit P
While the technology sounds impressive, my main concern is affordability. Will these be priced like Rajdhanis or will they be accessible to the common passenger? Also, hope the maintenance keeps up so the new features don't break down in a year.
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Sarah B
The ergonomic ladders and wider gangways are a game-changer! Travelling with family and elderly parents will be so much easier. Great to see indigenous development by BEML and ICF.
V
Vikram M
260 trainsets is a massive order. Hope the manufacturing quality is consistent. The semi-permanent couplers should make the ride much smoother. Looking forward to a jerk-free chai in the morning! 😄
K
Karthik V
A respectful suggestion: Please also focus on the basics like clean toilets and timely housekeeping on these trains. Advanced features are good, but the travel experience is often ruined by poor upkeep. The plan sounds promising though.
M
Michael C
The regenerative braking system for energy efficiency is a smart

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