KOLKATA (Metro Rail News): Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd (TRSL) is set to begin the commercial production of Vande Bharat sleeper trains at its plant in Uttarpara starting from June 2025, an official from the company informed. TRSL with its partner BHEL, has been given the responsibility to build 80 sets of these semi-high-speed trains.
Around 50-55 percent of the train components will be produced in Bengal by the consortium, with Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd holding a 52 per cent stake in it. The total contract value for the Vande Bharat sleeper trains is Rs 24,000 crore, and TRSL’s share of the order is Rs 12,716 crore.
Umesh Chowdhary, Vice-chairman & MD of Titagarh, mentioned that they are in the process of setting up separate lines and infrastructure facilities at the Uttarpara plant for the commercial production, for which a significant portion of the Rs 650 crore budget has been allocated.
The initial eight train sets will be completely manufactured at the Uttarpara plant, while the final assembly, testing, and commissioning for subsequent train sets will take place at Indian Railways facilities located in Chennai.
Mr. Chowdhary further mentioned that the entire order would be executed over a span of six years, and the first prototype is expected to be delivered within two years from the commencement of production.
Vande Bharat train’s key components such as bodies and interiors, will be manufactured in the state, while electrical components and others will come from the consortium partner.
