ICF Chennai to manufacture Vande Bharat trains with sleeper coaches in next phase

The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai is gearing up to manufacture Vande Bharat trains with sleeper facilities, marking a major expansion in India’s premium train fleet, as per a Maalaimalar report.

ICF had earlier been assigned the production of 97 Vande Bharat trains with seating arrangements. So far, 88 trains have been delivered, and the remaining nine are expected to be completed within the current financial year.

Once the current order is fulfilled, ICF will collaborate with Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) to produce and supply nine Vande Bharat sleeper trains. Production of an additional 24 sleeper variants is set to begin in the next financial year.

The Railway Board has placed an initial order with ICF for 50 sleeper-class Vande Bharat trains in its first phase, which will include 16-coach and 24-coach configurations. These enhanced trains will support long-distance overnight travel with improved comfort and design.

This initiative forms a part of Indian Railways’ ambitious plan to roll out 400 Vande Bharat trains across major routes in the country, significantly upgrading passenger travel experiences.