• Source:JND
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Vande Bharat Sleeper Train: Indian Railways is gearing up to launch the first-ever Vande Bharat Sleeper train service, and if all goes according to plan, its maiden journey will begin likely from the national capital. The new service, a long-distance version of the popular semi-high-speed Vande Bharat trains, is expected to cover around 1,000 kilometers. While a final route is yet to be confirmed, cities like Ahmedabad, Bhopal, and Patna (via Varanasi) are being considered as possible destinations.

“The primary focus is to improve availability of trains on high demand routes,” a senior official told Economic Times, adding that a formal decision on the exact routes would be announced soon.

Unlike the current Vande Bharat Express trains, which operate with chair car coaches primarily for daytime travel, the sleeper variant will feature 24-coach train sets equipped for overnight journeys. These trains are being built to reach a top speed of 180 km/h, with a planned service speed of 160 km/h. “The service will be launched in the coming weeks,” the official added.

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Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had previously told the Rajya Sabha that sleeper versions of the Vande Bharat had always been part of the broader plan to cater to long and medium-distance routes. He confirmed that the design of these sleeper trains has been finalized. As of July, 10 such train sets were already in production, with an additional 50 being built at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. Contracts have also been awarded to tech partners for manufacturing another 200 Vande Bharat Sleeper rakes.

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Currently, Indian Railways operates 150 Vande Bharat services using the chair car configuration. While these modern, indigenously designed trains offer a faster travel option, their use is currently limited to daytime routes. The upcoming sleeper version aims to improve passenger convenience by offering a comfortable alternative for overnight travel.

The Vande Bharat Express has seen impressive popularity, with overall occupancy reaching 102.01 per cent in 2024–25 and climbing to 105.03 per cent in the first quarter of this financial year.

Beyond the Vande Bharat expansion, the Railways is also focusing on general passenger needs. According to Vaishnaw, around 17,000 general and non-AC coaches are scheduled for production over the next five years. He added that the number of general coaches has already seen a significant boost in recent years.