Indian Railways is preparing for a major expansion of its Vande Bharat Sleeper network, with the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai set to manufacture 50 new trainsets, each comprising 24 coaches.
The move is expected to increase the availability of premium sleeper services on long-distance and overnight routes across the country. The sleeper version of Vande Bharat has been developed specifically for passengers travelling longer distances, offering modern amenities along with faster and more comfortable journeys.
24 coaches instead of 16
The upcoming trains will have 24 coaches, making them significantly larger than the 16-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper rake currently in service. A 24-coach configuration could accommodate roughly 1.5 times the number of passengers compared with a 16-coach train.
According to ICF officials, the production drawings for the new 24-coach sleeper trainsets have already been completed. These include designs related to the coach structure, systems connecting the coaches and equipment installed underneath the train.
Indian Railways has not yet officially finalised the exact coach composition of these new rakes. However, reports have suggested that a possible configuration could include 17 AC 3-tier coaches, five AC 2-tier coaches, one First AC coach and one pantry car.
More Vande Bharat Sleeper routes likely
The expansion comes as demand grows for modern overnight train services. The first Vande Bharat Sleeper service began operating between Howrah and Kamakhya in January 2026. Government data has confirmed the introduction of sleeper services following extensive testing and trials.
With 50 additional 24-coach rakes planned, Indian Railways will have greater capacity to introduce sleeper services on more long-distance routes.
The sleeper trains are designed with several features aimed at improving passenger comfort and safety, including enhanced crashworthiness, modern interiors and upgraded toilet and coach facilities.
Amrit Bharat Express 3.0 also in the pipeline
Alongside the Vande Bharat Sleeper expansion, ICF is also working on the next-generation Amrit Bharat Express 3.0.
The newer version is expected to include a mix of AC, sleeper and general coaches, potentially giving passengers more options across different fare categories. Existing Amrit Bharat services primarily consist of non-AC sleeper and general coaches.
The developments at ICF indicate that Indian Railways is simultaneously expanding premium long-distance services such as Vande Bharat Sleeper while working on more affordable modern train options through the Amrit Bharat programme.
The planned 50 24-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets could therefore mark a significant expansion of India’s overnight premium rail network, giving passengers more modern alternatives for long-distance travel.
