Passengers eager to experience the sleeper version of the Vande Bharat Express will have to wait a while longer. Full-scale production is yet to begin at the Marathwada Rail Coach Factory in Latur, where preparations are still underway.
The factory recently received the car body, the structural shell of the coach from a Chennai-based company. This shell will undergo several rounds of inspections and rigorous testing before the sleeper coaches can move into production.
When will the sleeper rakes be ready?
According to Marathi news outlet E-Sakal, the first complete sleeper rake is expected to roll out by June 2026. As per the agreement between Indian Railways and private player Kinet, the rakes will be assembled in phases.
The initial rollout will include two full rakes – 32 coaches in total, before scaling up production. The long-term goal: manufacture 1,920 sleeper coaches in a phased timeline. Maintenance and servicing will be carried out at dedicated facilities in Bengaluru, Delhi and Jodhpur.
Inside the Latur coach factory
The Marathwada Rail Coach Factory is spread over 351 acres and is one of India’s most advanced railway production units. It houses around 10,000 workers and features 11 cutting-edge assembly stations.
The factory includes sections for car body assembly, bogie fitting, painting, testing, and warehousing, and it has an internal 8.6-km track network for coach movement and trials.
What to expect from the sleeper variant?
The Vande Bharat Sleeper Express will consist of 16 coaches and is built for speeds up to 160 km/h. It will have a passenger capacity of 823, with each coach fitted with three toilets and a compact pantry to enhance passenger comfort. The estimated cost of manufacturing one sleeper rake stands at Rs 120 crore.
While full production may still be months away, the sleeper version of the Vande Bharat promises to redefine long-distance train travel in India, with greater comfort, higher speeds and upgraded onboard amenities.