Lok Sabha Question No. 3063 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-19
Subject: Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Smt. Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3063

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2025

## VANDE BHARAT SLEEPER TRAINS

3063 SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to increase the number of Vande Bharat Sleeper trains after the positive outcome of the
- trial run;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  set  up  the  necessary infrastructure and maintenance facilities to support the operation of Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains;
- (d)
- if so, details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has incorporated safety and technological  advancements  into  the  Vande  Bharat  Sleeper Trains compared to existing sleeper trains; and
- (f)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  to (f)   The first 16-car prototype rake of Vande Bharat Sleeper Train-set has been manufactured . Field trials have been completed and  the  rake  is  under  commissioning.  Total  10  Rakes  in  16-Car composition  and  50  rakes  in  24-Car  configuration  have  been provisioned for manufacture at ICF Chennai.

Besides,  contracts  for  Manufacture  of  200  Vande  Bharat  Sleeper rakes in Indian Railway Production Units using Indian Railway Staff through Technology partners have also been placed.

Broad technological advancements and safety features provided in

Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains are as below:

- i. Fitted with KAVACH.
2. ii.
3. Crashworthy and Jerk-Free Semi permanent couplers and Anti Climbers.
- iii. Crashworthy Design of Carbody complying with EN standards.
5. iv.
6. EN-45545 HL3 fire safety standards.
- v. Fire barrier doors at the end of each coach.
- vi. Regenerative braking system for energy efficiency.
- vii. Higher Average speed with quick deceleration acceleration.
10. and
- viii. Air  conditioning  units  provided  with  indigenously  developed UV-C lamp based disinfection system.
- ix. Emergency talk-back unit for communication between Passenger and Train Manager/Loco Pilot in case of emergency.
- x. Accommodation  and  accessible  toilets  for  Passengers  with Restricted Mobility (PRM) in the driving coaches on each end.
- xi. Centrally  controlled  Automatic  Plug  Doors  and  Fully  Sealed wider gangways.
15. Ergonomically  designed  ladder  for  ease  of  climbing  on  to
- xii. upper berths.
- xiii. Centralized  Coach  Monitoring  System  for  better  condition monitoring  of  passenger amenities  such  as  Air  conditioning, Saloon Lighting etc.
- xiv. CCTV surveillance cameras in all coaches.

Maintenance Infrastructure facilities are planned as per the operational and maintenance requirement. Accordingly, new maintenance  depots  and  up-gradation  of  existing  depots  with modern  infrastructure  facilities  suitable  for  Vande  Bharat  Trainsets  at  a  cost  of  more  than  Rs.14,000  Cr.  have  been  envisaged across Indian Railway network.

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