Indian Railways has tasked the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai with building 50 new 24‑coach Vande Bharat sleeper trains, a move that will extend overnight service across longer distances.
The 24‑coach design will feature a pantry car, increased toilet capacity, and a dedicated pantry unit—absent from current 16‑coach sets—making it one of the longest sleeper trains produced in India.
Manufacturing is split among three partners: BEML will produce 10 sets, the Indo‑Russian joint venture Kinet 120, and a Titagarh‑BHEL consortium 80, while ICF prepares its own version.
ICF says the trains will be ready within a month, with the first delivery scheduled for June 2027, as part of a broader plan to roll out over 200 sleeper sets by 2030.
The new sleepers will operate at 160 km/h, incorporate KAVACH anti‑collision and regenerative braking, and feature automatic doors and sealed gangways, aiming to boost safety and passenger comfort.