NEW DELHI(Metro Rail News): Given India’s growing demand for a faster and more comfortable mode of rail transport, the Vande Bharat train programme is gaining significant momentum. To balance supply and demand, ICF has awarded a ₹ 180 Cr contract to India’s leading rolling stock manufacturer, BEML, for producing the sleeper variant of the Vande Bharat train. The first Vande Bharat sleeper trains entered passenger service earlier this year on the Guwahati-Howrah route.
Vande Bharat Maintains 98% Average Occupancy
Since its commercial operations, the Vande Bharat train project has received great appreciation from the passenger segment, and proof of this is that currently, Vande Bharat Express trains maintain an average occupancy rate of around 98% to over 100% across various nationwide routes. Vande Bharat (VB) services have expanded rapidly across the national rail network, and now, 162 Vande Bharat train services are operating at present.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Production Pipeline: 260 Trains to be Rolled Out in Coming Years
The expansion of Vande Bharat has led to the strengthening of indian rail component supplier base and engineering capabilities in the nation. Currently, the orders for 260 Vande Bharat sleeper trains are active, which spans across multiple rail manufacturers.
ICF Chennai to Roll Out 50 Vande Bharat Sleeper trains
The Integral Coach Factory (ICF, Chennai) has remained ahead in Vande Bharat train production from the beginning. Currently, the coach factory is working on the order for the 50 sleeper variants of VB, which will come in the configuration of 24 coaches.
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BEML’s Commitment to Manufacture 10 Trains
In the last decade, BEML has expanded its footprint extensively across the metro and rail segment in India. BEML is shouldering the responsibility of producing 10 sleeper variants of VB, of which 1 trainset was inducted into commercial operations in January 2026 as India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train.
Kinet Railway Solutions (TMH-RVNL JV) Entrusted to Produce 120 Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains
Kinet Railway Solutions is a consortium between India’s Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), and the Russian engineering company Metrowagonmash, a subsidiary of Transmashholding (TMH) and Locomotive Electronic Systems (LES), in a 25:70:5 ratio. Kinet received an order to manufacture 120 Vande Bharat sleeper trains consisting of 16 coaches each. The first Kinet prototype is targeted for rollout by March 31, 2027. Kinet manufactures Vande Bharat sleeper trains at the Marathwada Rail Coach Factory located in Latur, Maharashtra.
BHEL and Titagarh Rail Systems (TRSL) Consortium to Build 80 Trainsets
The consortium between BHEL and Titagarh Rail Systems has been entrusted to build 80 Vande Bharat sleeper trains with a 35-year annual maintenance agreement. Meanwhile, the company is targeting to roll out the first train by the third quarter of the financial year 2027.