By Arun Kumar Das
New Delhi, Oct 17 (BVI): The much- awaited Vande Bharat Sleeper coach with Russian technology has been unveiled as the Indo-Russian joint venture got all necessary design approvals from the Railways.
The unveiling of the First AC berth of the premier service took place at the International Railway Equipment Exhibition (IREE) 2025 here amid the presence of senior railway and Kinet officials.
Kinet Railway Solutions is a joint venture between Transmashholding, the largest Russian rolling stock manufacturer, and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a state-owned Indian company. The partnership was established to deliver the Vande Bharat Sleeper train project, which includes the design and manufacture of 1,920 sleeper coaches (120 trainsets) and their maintenance for a period of 35 years
“It is a superb design with best possible facilities and I am happy that railway passengers will be able to use a most modern Sleeper coach,” said Ravneet Singh Bittu, Minister of State for Railways, after inspecting the mock-up Vande Bharat Sleeper coach.
The new First AC four-berth compartment offers a spacious, bright and comfortable environment designed for enhanced privacy.
There is a staircase to ensure easy access to the upper berths, while each seat comes equipped with a built-in USB port, individual reading light, and smart storage solutions for added convenience.
Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar said the decks are clear now for the first prototype of Vande Bharat Sleeper train by Kinet to be rolled out next year.
The interior of the coach gives a most modern look and offers comfort with a touch of elegance.
Vande Bharat Project Chief Designer Evgeny Maslov said we have tried to do our best because the train passengers deserve the best.
Even the niche under the staircase serves as a bedside space – a place for a book, a phone, or a watch – a small yet meaningful detail that makes the journey feel personal.
Kinet Managing Director Sathyamurthy K said “We are committed to deliver the best product to our train travellers in time and we hope that we will meet the aspirations of the people.”
Vande Bharat Sleeper trains are overnight service and expected to run on most of Rajdhani routes. (BVI)
