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Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Hits 180km/h During Trial Run - Video
Indian Railways has successfully conducted a high-speed trial of the upcoming Vande Bharat Sleeper Train. The Vande Bharat Sleeper hit a top speed of 180 km/h on the Sawai Madhopur-Kota-Nagda section during a high-speed trial conducted by the West Central Railway division.
Developed jointly by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai and Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), the sleeper train will extend the Vande Bharat platform to overnight routes. It combines a lightweight body structure with a new aerodynamic nose section and reinforced bogie design.
The train reached 180 km/h during the controlled test on the Sawai Madhopur-Kota-Nagda line, maintaining stability, braking response, and traction accuracy. West Central Railway confirmed the successful run, stating that the sleeper version demonstrated consistent performance across gradients and curves during the evaluation.
The new sleeper configuration of the Vande Bharat consists of 16 fully air-conditioned coaches with automatic doors, sealed gangways, and continuous window lines. The formation includes 11 AC three-tier, four AC two-tier, and one AC first-class coach designed specifically for overnight routes like Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah.
Inside, the Vande Bharat Sleeper features enclosed sleeping bays, improved air-conditioning, and soundproof interiors. The system includes dual air ducts for uniform cooling and LED lighting with automatic dimming. BEML has equipped the coaches with enhanced vibration damping and upgraded floor insulation for long-distance comfort.
Power is delivered through a distributed traction system using self-propelled coaches instead of a conventional locomotive. The setup allows faster acceleration to 160 km/h within 140 seconds. Each motor coach is fitted with regenerative braking and traction converters.
Further trials are planned until December 2025 to evaluate braking, passenger comfort, and energy efficiency. After RDSO certification, the first commercial deployment of the Vande Bharat Sleeper is expected in early 2026, beginning with long-distance routes between major metros.
Around 50 Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets are scheduled for phased induction across the network under the Make in India production. ICF and BEML will share manufacturing responsibilities, with final assembly taking place at the Chennai facility.
The Vande Bharat Sleeper has been developed to eventually replace existing Rajdhani Express rakes on overnight high-speed corridors. It is expected to reduce travel time significantly while offering a higher level of passenger comfort through upgraded interiors and noise reduction technologies.
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