India's railway revolution is picking up pace, with the much-anticipated Vande Bharat Sleeper train inching closer to its commercial debut. The second complete rake of this pioneering semi-high-speed sleeper has been dispatched from its manufacturing hub in Bengaluru, marking a critical step towards its eventual rollout on long-distance routes across North India.
From Bengaluru's BEML to SMVT Station: The Journey Continues
Contrary to circulating rumours, the newly assembled rake remains in Bengaluru as of this week. Manufactured by the public sector giant Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML), the train set was moved to the Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) railway station on Monday morning. A senior official from the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, the nodal agency for the project, provided clarity, stating, "The second rake of Vande Bharat Sleeper has come out of BEML and is still at SMVT station. It will likely remain there for another two or three days."
This development follows the completion of the first prototype rake, which underwent extensive testing. The presence of the second unit signifies the progression from the prototype phase towards series production. Officials have confirmed that while minor technical modifications are planned for subsequent rakes, the first two are fundamentally ready for operation.
Designed for Distance: Speed, Comfort, and Capacity
The Vande Bharat Sleeper variant is specifically engineered for overnight journeys exceeding 800–1,000 kilometres. It retains the core engineering excellence of its chair-car siblings, featuring a design capable of reaching speeds up to 160 km/h with rapid acceleration and deceleration. However, its actual operational speed will be constrained by existing track infrastructure, as only a limited section of India's vast rail network is currently certified for speeds above 150 km/h.
The 16-coach rake spotted in Bengaluru offers a familiar yet upgraded travel hierarchy, divided into three air-conditioned classes:
- Third AC
- Second AC
- First AC
This configuration aligns with other premium long-distance trains, ensuring passenger comfort on extended overnight trips.
Northern Railway to Pioneer Services, March 2026 Deadline Set
While the Indian Railway Board has not officially announced the inaugural route, it has been confirmed that the Northern Railway zone will operate the first commercial services. This zone covers a network of major cities including Delhi, Ambala, Moradabad, Kanpur, Jaipur, and Jodhpur, spanning states like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir.
As the first of its kind, the rake requires final clearances, and officials have not ruled out the possibility of additional trial runs. Once all formalities are satisfied, the train set will be handed over to Northern Railway. There is strong speculation within railway circles that the service could be launched as a 'New Year gift' to the nation, with serious planning already underway.
Looking ahead, the project has an ambitious timeline. A total of 10 rakes are planned in this initial batch, which will be sufficient to operate five full sleeper services. The manufacturing target for all eight remaining rakes is set for March 2026. This rollout promises to redefine overnight travel in India, blending higher speed with the comfort of sleeper accommodations.
