Indian Railways has achieved another milestone in the production of Vande Bharat Sleeper trains. This new train is set to be rolled out by the end of this year. Once introduced, the train will provide more comfort and enhance the passenger experience in the country. On Sunday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw unveiled the prototype of the Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset at BEML's Bangalore rail complex.

In the Union Budget 2023-24, Vaishnaw announced ramping up the production of Vande Bharat Express trains. For this, Vaishnaw said that these ultra-modern trains will also be manufactured at MRCF, Latur, and RCF, Rae Bareli apart from Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory.

Vande Bharat Sleeper Coaches

Now, Vande Bharat Sleeper coaches will also be manufactured at the Latur-based Marathwada Rail Coach Factory (MRCF). On Tuesday, the MRCF was officially commissioned. This is one of the big milestones in the country’s largest and most complex railway projects. Following an international tender, the trains will be manufactured by Kinet Railway Solutions. It is a joint venture (JV) between Russian rolling stock major TMH and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL).

Production of Vande Bharat Sleeper Coaches at Latur

The Kinet Railway Solutions will manufacture 120 trainsets or 1920 Vande Bharat Sleeper coaches for the Indian Railways under US Dollar 6.5 billion contract. It is expected to launch prototypes by 2025. Once the trains are in service, Kinet will be responsible for service and maintenance at three designated depots for 35 years.

In a statement, Sathyamurthy K, Managing Director - Latur, Kinet, said: "This plant is more than just a factory. It’s a driver of social and economic growth in the region. Over 10,000 people will be involved in the production process. By creating jobs, supporting related industries, and promoting skill development, we’re contributing to the ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’ vision – a developed India by the centenary of our Independence."

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