The Indian Railways is gearing up to introduce the much-anticipated Vande Bharat sleeper trains, offering passengers a comfortable and efficient means of long-distance travel. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently provided a sneak peek of these innovative sleeper compartments via a post on the social media platform X.
In his post, Minister Vaishnaw shared pictures of the upcoming Vande Bharat sleeper trains, accompanied by the caption, “Concept train – Vande Bharat (sleeper version). Coming soon… early 2024.” While the exact launch date was not specified, an ANI report suggests that these sleeper trains could be operational by February 2024.
What sets these sleeper trains apart is their unique design, offering passengers two and three-tier berth options that differ significantly from the traditional layouts seen in Rajdhani and other premium trains. The Vande Bharat sleeper trains aim to provide a more comfortable and efficient overnight travel experience for passengers covering long distances.
The Vande Bharat Express project, initiated to promote ‘Make-In-India,’ has been a significant achievement for the Indian Railways. The first Vande Bharat Express, which operates between New Delhi and Varanasi, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 15, 2019. These trains are manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, showcasing India’s engineering capabilities.
In addition to the sleeper compartment announcement, the Indian Railways has introduced a novel cleaning concept for the Vande Bharat trains, inspired by Japan’s bullet train model. As of October 1, coaches of these trains will undergo cleaning procedures that take just 14 minutes, mirroring the efficiency of Japan’s seven-minute cleaning regimen.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw explained that this initiative aligns with Japan’s ‘7 minutes of miracle’ concept, wherein bullet trains are swiftly cleaned and prepared for their next journeys. The move aims to enhance punctuality and streamline turnaround times, ultimately benefiting passengers.
The introduction of Vande Bharat sleeper trains and the efficient cleaning processes mark significant strides in India’s railway modernization efforts, offering passengers a more comfortable and time-effective travel experience.
Sources By Agencies
