Indian Railways’ first Vande Bharat sleeper train prototype has finally gone under the production stage with manufacturing commencing today. The first Vande Bharat sleeper train, said to be superior to Rajdhani Express trains, is being manufactured by BEML in collaboration with ICF, Chennai. The production commenced at BEML’s Bangalore complex in the presence of Railway Board Member (Traction & Rolling Stock) Naveen Gulati, ICF GM BG Mallya and BEML CMD Shantanu Roy.
According to railways, the Vande Bharat sleeper trains will be “world-class’, and at par with global standards. “The trainset will have best-in-class interiors with GFRP panels (lightweight and corrosion-resistant material) combined with aerodynamic exterior looks, crash worthy features, modular pantry, ergonomically designed odor free toilet system and modern passenger amenities for travelers,” BEML has said.
Vande Bharat Sleeper train features
In an earlier interaction with TOI, Shantanu Roy had said that BEML aims to roll out the first Vande Bharat sleeper prototype by March 2024. The 16 coach 160 kmph capable Vande Bharat sleeper train will have 1 AC 1st coach, 4 AC 2 tier coaches and 11 AC 3 tier coaches. The total berth capacity of the train will be 823. The new train will have the following features:
- Crash worthy features
- Modern passenger amenities
- Aerodynamic exterior looks
- Sensor-based inter communication doors
- Automatic exterior passenger doors
- Modular pantry
- Noise insulation and mitigation measures for silent saloon space
- Public announcement and visual information system
- Remotely operated Fire barrier doors at end wall
- Ergonomically designed odour free toilet system
- Spacious luggage room
- Best-in-class interiors with GFRP panels
- Fire safety as per EN 45545, Hazard Level: 03
- Special berths and toilets for differently abled
- Toilet for driving crew
- Shower with hot water in 1st AC car
According to Shantanu Roy, the internal furnishing, the entire layout is being done in such a manner, keeping in view the comfort to the passenger, who will be using this train to travel for long distance. “The interior will be at a different level than the Rajdhani. It is designed on very superior trains that run in the foreign countries,” Roy told TOI.
“The overall travel experience, the comfort level, the jerks, all those things will be taken care of, mostly because of the difference in the designing, in the styling, and these being distributed control system or a propulsion driven system, fully electric, rather than a push-pull train, which has a locomotive at the front,” he added.
