Indian Railways is preparing to expand its high-speed fleet with the addition of 120 new Vande Bharat Sleeper trains. Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar announced on April 11, 2026, that the prototype for these trains will be ready for testing within the next year. Once the testing phase is completed, the joint venture led by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) will begin the supply of the 120 train sets to the national transporter.
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What is the timeline for the 120 new Vande Bharat Sleeper trains?
The Railway Board has confirmed that the new prototype for the Vande Bharat Sleeper is currently under development and will be ready for trials by early 2027. This project is being handled by Kinet Railway Solutions, a joint venture between RVNL and Transmashholding. These trains are designed for long-distance overnight travel, offering fully air-conditioned sleeping berths and advanced safety features. The production process involves multiple agencies including Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai to ensure high standards of quality and comfort.
Recent milestones and key updates in the project
The Vande Bharat Sleeper project has reached several significant milestones over the past year. The following table provides a summary of the progress made by Indian Railways in this segment:
| Date | Important Update or Milestone |
|---|---|
| April 11, 2026 | Announcement of 120 new trains and one-year prototype timeline |
| April 5, 2026 | Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper route approved by Rail Minister |
| January 17, 2026 | First Vande Bharat Sleeper flagged off between Kamakhya and Howrah |
| December 31, 2025 | Successful completion of high-speed tests at 180 kmph |
| September 2024 | First prototype trainset rolled out by BEML |
In addition to the 120 trains being built by the RVNL-led joint venture, the government plans to introduce a total of 260 Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets across the country. The existing Kamakhya-Howrah service has already seen high demand, recording over 100% occupancy within its first three months of operation. These new trains will feature design improvements recently suggested by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) to enhance passenger stability and comfort during high-speed travel.