New Delhi: Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) has set June 2026 as the target for rolling out the first prototype of the much-anticipated Vande Bharat Sleeper train under its Indo-Russian joint venture.
Speaking during the Q3FY26 earnings conference call, RVNL Chairman and Managing Director Saleem Ahmad said the project is progressing as per schedule.
“Vande Bharat is a very prestigious project for us and for the Railways. We are manufacturing 120 trainsets, and our first milestone is to deliver the prototype to the Railways. We are hopeful to achieve this by June 2026,” he said.
120 Sleeper Trainsets Planned
The RVNL-led joint venture will manufacture 120 Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets, each comprising 16 coaches, taking total production to 1,920 coaches.
The contract for manufacturing Vande Bharat Sleeper trains was awarded by the Ministry of Railways to three entities:
-
BEML Limited
-
Kinet Railway Solutions (JV between Russia’s TMH and RVNL)
-
A consortium of Titagarh Rail Systems Limited and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
The Indo-Russian partnership is being executed through Kinet Railway Solutions, a joint venture between RVNL and Russian rolling stock major **Transmashholding (TMH).
Design & Comfort Upgrades
On October 15, 2025, Kinet Railway Solutions unveiled the design concept of the First AC coach for the Vande Bharat Sleeper trains.
Key features include:
-
Four-berth enclosed compartments
-
Staircase access to upper berths
-
Individual USB charging ports
-
Personal reading lights
-
Smart storage solutions
-
Enhanced privacy and brighter interiors
The design aims to blend long-distance comfort with modern trainset technology.
Parallel Developments
Earlier this year, the Howrah–Kamakhya–Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper service, developed by BEML Limited using technology from the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), was launched in January 2026.
With multiple manufacturing partners now engaged, Indian Railways is accelerating its push to introduce semi-high-speed sleeper trainsets for long-distance travel, marking the next phase in the Vande Bharat expansion programme.
Strategic Significance
The Vande Bharat Sleeper project represents:
-
Deepening Indo-Russian industrial collaboration
-
Expansion of indigenous trainset manufacturing
-
Modernisation of long-distance passenger travel
-
Boost to the “Make in India” rail manufacturing ecosystem
If delivered on schedule, the June 2026 prototype rollout will mark a major milestone in India’s next-generation intercity rail transformation.
