New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The much-awaited Vande Bharat sleeper trains are set to begin operations within two months, according to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Highlighting the aesthetics and functionality in the interior and exterior design of these trains, the Minister said the Indian Railways aims to deploy around 250 units of Vande Bharat sleeper trains by 2029.
Designed by BEML, Vande Bharat sleeper trains prioritise both aesthetic appeal and functionality in their interiors, sleeper berths, and exteriors. “From the front nose cone to interior panels, seats and berths, interior lights, couplers, gangways and beyond, every element is meticulously designed to meet the exacting standards of the sleeper trainset,” Vaishnaw said.
Stating that the completion work of the Vande Bharat sleeper train is in full swing, he said the first train will be on track within two months. All technical works are in the last phase. The trainset is manufactured by BEML Ltd at its rail unit in Bangalore. The Vande Bharat Sleeper version will provide easy mobility to commuters and offer various comforts in the near future with global standards, the Railway Minister said.
The car body structure is crafted with high-grade Austenitic stainless steel, featuring crashworthy elements integrated into the crash buffers and couplers, he said.
“All materials and aggregates adhere to stringent safety standards, meeting the fire standard requirements as per EN45545 HL3 grade,” the railway minister said.
The minister said tickets will also be heavily subsidised. “In a normal scenario, if the cost of a product is Rs 100, we would sell it at Rs 105-110. But in the case of rail tickets, the government is paying Rs 55 from its pocket. The annual subsidy burden of the government is Rs 59,000 crore,” he said.
Apart from new trains, 19,837 special trains services were run to address the summer rush during April-June, he said.
Notably, the use of Vande Bharat trains is currently limited to daytime routes due to chair seating. The sleeper variants will bring offer more comfort for passengers undertaking longer journeys.
