News Brief
Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Rollout Pushed By Nine Months, First Prototype Delivery Expected By March 2026: Report
File photo of Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset
The rollout of the highly-awaited Vande Bharat sleeper trainset has reportedly encountered a delay, pushing back the production schedule by at least 6 to 9 months from its initial July 2025 target, The Hindu Businessline reported.
The first prototypes, currently under development by a consortium of Titagarh Rail Systems and state-owned BHEL Ltd, are now likely to be ready by March 2026.
The delay reportedly stems mainly from the Railways’ seeking a modification of the contract terms that include train designs and coach configurations, but finally rescinding to the original plans, the Businessline reported.
Originally, each train was planned to have 16 coaches, with a production cost of Rs 120 crore.
However, the Railways sought to expand this to 20-24 coaches, which not only delayed design approvals but also impacted production costs.
Additional coaches would have meant increase in train costs on a probable pro rata basis, according to the report.
The first train, initially set for delivery in June 2025, will now be ready by March 2026.
“So it’s additional of 9 months for the prototype submissions....And then the balance trains will follow from the consortium,” according to a Railways official cited in the Businessline report.
Acknowledging the delays, the letter also permits a revised deadline for submission of prototypes and deliveries.
“The technology partner (BEML - Titagarh) shall supply two prototype trains to the Government for tests and trials to be enacted in accordance with the provisions of the clause.....First prototype train be supplied within a period of 33 months from the appointed date. Second prototype should be delivered within 60 days of the date of delivery of the first prototype," the revised clause in the contract was quoted as saying by The Businessline.
As per the Railway Board’s letter, the order was placed in June 2023.
Given the 33-month timeframe, the adjusted deadline for the first prototype now stands at March 2026.
Under the contract, the consortium is set to produce 80 Vande Bharat sleeper trains over six years, with eight units in the first year, 12 in the second, and 20 per year thereafter.
This marks the second delay in the rollout of Vande Bharat trainsets.
A separate batch of 120 trainsets, being developed by the TMH-RVNL joint venture, has reportedly also faced setbacks due to ongoing contract renegotiations with the Railways.
