Indian Railways Expands Vande Bharat Services with New Sleeper Trains
Indian Railways has significantly expanded its Vande Bharat train services, now operating a total of 164 Vande Bharat trains featuring Chair Cars across its network. This ongoing initiative to introduce new services, including variants of the Vande Bharat Express, is determined by various logistical factors such as capacity, availability of train paths, and infrastructure readiness.
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted Indian Railways to temporarily halt regular passenger services starting March 23, 2020, shifting to special trains. Following a thorough evaluation in collaboration with IIT-Bombay, the railways revamped its timetable to enhance safety and punctuality for passengers. This rationalisation of services has allowed for better maintenance of tracks and faster train operations. By November 2025, the average number of daily train services climbed to 11,740, a rise from the pre-pandemic average of 11,283. Moreover, Mail and Express services grew from 1,768 to 2,238 daily in the same timeframe.
Introducing Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains
In a bid to enhance long and medium-distance travel, Indian Railways has introduced the Sleeper variant of the Vande Bharat train, specifically designed for overnight journeys. Two units of this new model have been manufactured and are currently undergoing trials and commissioning.
The Vande Bharat Sleeper trains are equipped with a variety of advanced technological features aimed at ensuring passenger safety and comfort. Among these features is the KAVACH system, designed for collision avoidance, as well as higher acceleration capabilities with a maximum operating speed of 180 km/h. The trains are built with crashworthy designs that meet European safety standards (EN standards) and include features such as semi-permanent couplers and anti-climbers to enhance safety during collisions.
Moreover, they comply with EN-45545 HL3 fire safety regulations, incorporating fire barrier doors in each coach and an aerosol-based fire detection and suppression system in both electrical cabinets and lavatories. For enhanced energy efficiency, the Sleeper trains feature a regenerative braking system and ultraviolet (UV-C) lamp-based disinfection systems in air conditioning units.
Additional passenger-friendly amenities include centrally controlled automatic plug doors, wider sealed gangways, CCTVs in each coach, and an emergency communication system between passengers and train staff. Recognising the needs of Divyangjan (persons with disabilities), the trains offer specially designed lavatories in the driving coaches. Furthermore, a Centralized Coach Monitoring System will allow for real-time tracking of amenities like air conditioning and lighting, along with ergonomically designed ladders for easier access to upper berths.
This progressive announcement was made by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister for Railways, during a recent session in Lok Sabha, reflecting Indian Railways’ commitment to enhancing the travel experience for all its passengers.
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