Indian Railways has announced that it will roll out 10 state-of-the-art Vande Bharat Sleeper trains in the financial year 2025–26.
These semi-high-speed trains are expected to significantly enhance overnight travel across the country by combining cutting-edge technology with superior passenger comfort and sustainability-focused design. Developed to elevate intercity travel to global standards, the Vande Bharat Sleeper trains are being manufactured in collaboration with three major players in the railway infrastructure sector — BEML, Kinet Railway Solutions, and the Titagarh Rail Systems–BHEL consortium. The consortiums are collectively tasked with delivering 210 trainsets in the coming years, with the first 10 ready for deployment by FY26.
While specific routes for these trains have not been officially announced, they are likely to serve high-demand overnight corridors such as New Delhi–Mumbai, New Delhi–Pune, New Delhi–Howrah, Sealdah–New Delhi, and New Delhi–Secunderabad. These routes have historically experienced high occupancy and will benefit from a faster, more comfortable travel option. The Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets will consist of 16 coaches with a total seating and sleeping capacity of 823 passengers, distributed across First AC, Second AC, and Third AC categories. Designed with austenitic stainless-steel car bodies, the trains offer a blend of strength and lightweight efficiency. The carriages will also incorporate advanced crashworthy elements such as crash buffers and energy-absorbing couplers to significantly enhance safety in case of impact.
Indian Railways is positioning these trains not just as a technological upgrade but also as a significant step toward environmentally sustainable transport solutions. The focus on modern aerodynamics, energy-efficient propulsion, and minimalistic noise and vibration levels aligns with India’s goal of achieving a low-carbon mobility ecosystem. This initiative also complements the central vision of building equitable and accessible public transport networks across all regions. The sleeper version marks an evolution of the Vande Bharat brand, which first garnered attention for transforming day-time intercity travel with high-speed, chair-car configurations. This latest iteration extends the brand’s promise to overnight journeys, bringing uniform luxury, efficiency, and sustainability to longer routes.
A senior railway official confirmed that while production is underway, the final rollout decision will rest with the Railway Board. The urgency in manufacturing highlights the national transporter’s growing emphasis on transitioning from legacy rakes to energy-efficient, low-maintenance rolling stock that aligns with India’s rail electrification goals. As India pushes to reduce its dependence on air and road travel for medium- and long-distance journeys, the Vande Bharat Sleeper trains are expected to be a critical piece of the larger multi-modal mobility transformation. If executed on time and as envisioned, these trains could redefine rail travel for the next generation of passengers blending comfort, safety, and speed with the ethos of a greener, more inclusive India.
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