No Pantry Car, Lesser Toilets On Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains; Here’s All About The ₹55,000 Cr Project

We have read multiple reports about Vande Bharat sleeper trains in the last couple of years. After getting updates on its prototype and conducting trial runs, travellers are excitedly awaiting the news of its inauguration and commencement of services. An issue regarding the number of toilets and pantry cars on these sleeper trains was reported some time back. Now, these design-related concerns have been resolved. Continue reading to know what’s inside these new trains.

Each Coach Of Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains Will Have Three Toilets

Previously, a problem with the specific number of toilets and pantry cars was highlighted. Later, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that this issue had been sorted with a final decision. Right now, the concerned departments agreed to move ahead with the original plan of adding three toilets in every coach of Vande Bharat sleeper trains. In addition, no pantry car will be added.

If you have travelled on express trains, you may know that sleeper coaches generally have four toilets. However, the original plan of having only three stirred an unclear decision. Initially, Kinet Railway Solutions pointed out the problem regarding four toilets per coach and pantry cars, according to a report by The Economic Times. Kinet Railway Solutions is a joint venture of Russian railway company TMH and PSU RVNL of Indian Railways.

Now, issues have been sorted to manufacture these trains for overnight journeys and the project is of ₹55,000 crore. The contract tender by the Ministry of Railways includes manufacturing 1,920 sleeper coaches for 80 sleeper Vande Bharat trains. No cost revision has been conducted as the authorities are proceeding with the original design plan.

Also read: Upcoming Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains To Roll Out In Two Months, Services To Start Soon; Details Here

More Companies Are Working Too

The Railways floated tenders for this project and awarded contracts to several firms. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Titagarh Rail Systems (TRS) will work together to manufacture 1,280 sleeper coaches for 53 trains. Also, BEML and Chennai’s Integral Coach Factory (ICF) will work on 10 Vande Bharat sleeper trains. This integral step has been taken for faster production.

Also read: 1st Prototype Of Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Manufactured; Trials On Field To Begin Soon

What are your views on this design plan? Are you excited to travel on these trains?

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

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