Indian Railways (IR) is nearing the much-anticipated rollout of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train, an ultra-modern addition to its fleet. Currently, the train is undergoing trial runs in Rajasthan’s Kota. The Vande Bharat Sleeper was unveiled by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in September 2024.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Trial Runs
The Vande Bharat Sleeper is now in the second phase of trials in the West Central Railway (WCR) zone. The Lucknow-based Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO) is overseeing these trials. Last month, the first phase was successfully conducted in the Jhansi Division of the North Central Railway (NCR).
On January 2, the train reached a top speed of 180 km/h during speed testing conducted by the RDSO. The tests evaluated speeds ranging from 130 km/h to 180 km/h across the WCR zone. In addition to speed testing, the RDSO is assessing several technical parameters, including brake performance under various conditions and coupler force during both operating and braking modes.
Last week, the RDSO also completed oscillation trials in the Jhansi Division, testing speeds of up to 115 km/h in different configurations, such as loaded and empty modes with inflated and deflated settings.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Launch Date
The Vande Bharat Sleeper train will be officially launched following the successful completion of trial runs and the finalisation of its route. The introduction of this train was first announced during the post-budget press conference for FY 2023-24 by the Railway Minister. Once operational, the Vande Bharat Sleeper train is expected to redefine passenger comfort and convenience.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Route
The Ministry of Railways is yet to finalise the route for the Vande Bharat Sleeper train. Proposed routes under consideration include New Delhi-Pune and New Delhi-Srinagar, among others.