BEML Bengaluru to roll out 2 more Vande Bharat sleeper rakes before March; ICF targets 10-coach delivery

While anticipation over the country’s second Vande Bharat sleeper service continues, two more rakes are set to be readied by next month. This rollout from the city-based public sector undertaking (PSU), Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML), will enable the second service to be flagged off.

As per BEML’s original agreement with the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, a total of 10 sleeper rakes with 16 coaches each were supposed to be delivered to the Indian Railways by March 31.

However, sources at ICF state the deadline will be missed. “We expect the third and fourth rakes of Vande Bharat to be delivered before the end of March. For the six remaining rakes, we are trying to make sure to provide a rake every month from then on” an ICF official said.

The official added, “As of now, a new tentative deadline for the initial batch of 10 coaches could be Aug. Even if it is delivered from Bengaluru, they will go through trials, testing and approvals, so there is no point in hurrying or rushing.”

Demand for Vande Bharat sleeper trains, particularly from Karnataka, has been steadily increasing. The popularity of the semi-high-speed trains, with modern features and enhanced comfort, has led the railway ministry to officially announce plans to manufacture 260 more rakes in the future. These plans reflect the government’s intent to scale up premium rail travel nationwide and provide more options for long-distance passengers seeking comfort, speed, and reliability.

Answering a Lok Sabha question last week, Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw stated, “Vande Bharat sleeper train manufacturing programme is being executed in a phased manner through prototype development, trials and series production by BEML & Integral Coach Factory, Chennai and technology partners.” This highlights that the project is proceeding carefully through stages of design, testing, and production to ensure that safety and performance standards are met before large-scale deployment.

According to ICF officials, the Vande Bharat sleeper project is currently in the design stage. Series production of new rakes will only be undertaken after the completion of the initial batch of 10 rakes, which are essential for establishing performance benchmarks and completing regulatory approvals. This approach underscores the phased strategy adopted by Indian Railways and its manufacturing partners to ensure high standards in new train technology.

A BEML spokesperson confirmed that as of now, no additional orders for further Vande Bharat sleeper rakes have been placed or undertaken by the PSU. The company is focused on completing the existing commitments in coordination with ICF before entering into any future manufacturing agreements. This cautious approach is meant to maintain quality and reliability while planning future expansions.