The Vande Bharat sleeper trains are likely to replace the existing Rajdhani Express trains in a gradual and phased manner, the Indian Railways has said.
Vande Bharat: The Indian Railways is reportedly planning to introduce Vande Bharat sleeper trains which will gradually replace the Rajdhani Express— the staple and flag-bearer of sleeper trains in the country– in a phased manner.
As per reports, the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) , a Chennai-based production unit operating under the Ministry of Railways, has contracted RITES Ltd (Rail India Technical and Economic Service) to carry out an independent safety assessment (ISA) of the Vande Bharat sleeper trains.
The safety assessment including several steps, such as design reviews, final safety acceptance assessments, and review of test results, the Indian Railways said in a statement, asserting that the Vande Bharat sleeper train will be a “world-class,” “class-apart” train set, carrying a distinct “wow” factor.
‘New era for Indian trains’
The Indian Railways, which is vociferously pushing for the development of more advanced version of the Vande Bharat train series, with added security features, comfort and amenities for passengers, has asserted the sleeper class of the semi-high speed Vande Bharat train will usher in a new era for train travel in India.
The Vande Bharat sleeper train is likely to replace the existing Rajdhani Express trains in a gradual and phased manner, the Indian Railways has said.
How many sleeper berths on each Vande Bharat train?
The Vande Bharat trains will have a total of 67 sleeper berths
Vande Bharat sleeper train features
As per the ministry, the Vande Bharat sleeper trains will be “state-of-the-art” carriages, offering modern amenities and all the latest features to passengers for a new experience in safety and comfort never before witnessed in train travel in India.
Giving a sneak peak of some of advanced features customers can expect in the new Vande Bharat sleeper trains, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed that the design of the roof, car body, and load has been enhanced to increase their capacities.
For added passenger comfort, the vibration and noise levels inside the Vande Bharat sleeper train coaches will be significantly reduced compared to regular sleeper trains, he said.
The Minister also revealed that the air conditioning system has been improved and the seat cushions will have integrated tech-enabled features providing a comfortable experience to passengers.
The Vande Bharat sleeper train will also have a better-designed climbing ladder for the sleeper berth, including the foot contact area, to make it more accessible and user-friendly, he said, adding that train will also offer well-designed mobile charging and storage spaces, designed for passenger comfort and ease-of-access.