After missed deadlines, will Vande Bharat Sleeper finally roll out as ‘New Year gift’ for commuters?

The Vande Bharat Sleeper has been designed for long-distance overnight travel, especially on routes covering more than 800 to 1,000 kilometres.

India’s first semi-high-speed sleeper train, the Vande Bharat Sleeper, is moving a step closer to launch, with the second rake of the train now ready and stationed in Bengaluru. The train has been manufactured by public sector company Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) at its Bengaluru facility and has recently been handed over to Indian Railways for further procedures.

As per the officials, the second rake is currently at Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) railway station. A senior official from the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai said the rake arrived at the station on Monday morning and is expected to remain there for another two to three days before the next steps are taken, TOI reported.

The Vande Bharat Sleeper has been designed for long-distance overnight travel, especially on routes covering more than 800 to 1,000 kilometres. Unlike the existing Vande Bharat trains, which mostly operate as chair-car services during the day, this version offers sleeping accommodation for passengers.

The train is capable of running at speeds of up to 160 kmph and is built for fast acceleration and braking. However, officials noted that its actual operating speed will depend on the condition of railway tracks, as only limited stretches in India currently support speeds above 150 kmph.

The rake currently in Bengaluru has 16 coaches, divided into three air-conditioned classes, third AC, second AC and first AC. While Indian Railways has not yet announced the route for the first commercial run, officials said the service will be operated by the Northern Railway zone.

This zone covers several major cities, including Delhi, Ambala, Moradabad, Kanpur, Jaipur and Jodhpur, across states such as Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Since this is the first sleeper version of the Vande Bharat, officials said a few minor technical issues are being examined before final clearance. Another trial run has not been ruled out, though no decision has been taken yet. Engineers have stressed that there are no problems with the overall design or appearance of the train.

“We have identified some small rectification work, which will be carried out in future rakes. The first two rakes are fit for operation,” an official was quoted by TOI as saying.

Indian Railways plans to manufacture eight more sleeper rakes by March 2026. These 10 rakes will be enough to run five sleeper services initially.

Once all formal approvals are completed, the train will be handed over to the Northern Railway zone. Although the Railway Board has not officially announced the launch date, officials indicated that the first service could be introduced as a New Year gift.

The Vande Bharat Sleeper has faced multiple delays. It was earlier expected to be rolled out in December last year and later by September or October this year. Despite the setbacks, officials remain confident that the project is now nearing the final stage before commercial operations begin.