Vande Bharat Sleeper Is Ready! How Is Indian Railways' New Train Better Than Rajdhani Express? Top 10 Things Passengers Will Love

Vande Bharat Sleeper vs Rajdhani Express: The first prototype of the all new Indian Railways’ Vande Bharat sleeper train will hit the tracks for testing in November. The new train aims to change the face of overnight premium travel for passengers on the Indian Railways network. Importantly, the new Vande Bharat sleeper train is said to be superior to the Rajdhani Express train in terms of speed, passenger comfort and safety. The AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier and AC-1st coaches of the new train have been unveiled by ICF. So what’s special about the Vande Bharat sleeper train and how is it different from Rajdhani Express trains? We take a look:

Vande Bharat sleeper versus Rajdhani Express train: The Vande Bharat sleeper train, capable of reaching speeds up to 160 kmph, offers superior acceleration and deceleration compared to the Rajdhani Express. This enhanced performance will lead to a higher average speed and shorter travel times for passengers, says Indian Railways.

Vande Bharat sleeper versus Rajdhani Express train: In terms of sleeping arrangements, the Vande Bharat sleeper trains will feature berths with improved cushioning compared to those found in the Rajdhani. Also, Indian Railways has said that extra cushioning on the side of each berth has been provided for better sleep comfort.

Vande Bharat sleeper versus Rajdhani Express train: Indian Railways has said that the new Vande Bharat sleeper train has been designed with passenger comfort as a priority. One notable improvement compared to the Rajdhani is the ladder, which has been engineered to provide easier access to the upper and middle berths.

Vande Bharat sleeper versus Rajdhani Express train: The Vande Bharat sleeper is a self-propelled train set, featuring a driver cabin at both ends. This eliminates the need for a locomotive to pull the train, as is the case with the Rajdhani Express. Consequently, this design reduces the turnaround time at end stations, further enhancing efficiency.

Vande Bharat sleeper versus Rajdhani Express train: The Vande Bharat sleeper train will feature fully sealed gangways, similar to its chair car counterpart. This will ensure a dust-free environment for travellers and allows for more efficient air-conditioning throughout the train.

Vande Bharat sleeper versus Rajdhani Express train: In comparison to the Rajdhani Express, the Vande Bharat sleeper train will utilize austenitic steel for its side walls, roof, end walls, floor sheets, and cab, ensuring enhanced durability and safety, sources told TOI.

Vande Bharat sleeper versus Rajdhani Express train: The Vande Bharat sleeper train will have automatic entry and exit doors for passengers. These doors will be controlled by the driver. Additionally, the train will have automatic interconnecting doors between coaches, further enhancing passenger convenience and safety.

Vande Bharat sleeper versus Rajdhani Express train: Vande Bharat sleeper train features a bio-vacuum toilet system with modular touch-free fittings. Passengers traveling in the AC 1st coach will have access to a shower cubicle, which is in line with the features of the current AC 1 coaches on Indian Railways trains.

Vande Bharat sleeper versus Rajdhani Express: Vande Bharat sleeper versus Rajdhani Express train: According to railway sources who spoke with TOI, the Vande Bharat sleeper train is expected to offer superior safety features compared to the Rajdhani Express. The train's crashworthiness will be enhanced through the incorporation of front and intermediate side crash buffers, as well as front and intermediate couplers equipped with deformation tubes.

Vande Bharat Sleeper vs Rajdhani Express: The Vande Bharat sleeper train will be better than Rajdhani trains in terms of fire safety standards, according to sources who spoke with TOI. The train will comply with the EN 45545 HL3 fire safety standard, ensuring that all non-metallic components also meet this rigorous requirement. To prevent the spread of fire to the saloon and cab areas, the Vande Bharat sleeper incorporates a fire barrier wall that meets the E30 integrity standard for luggage compartments.

Vande Bharat sleeper versus Rajdhani Express train: Railway officials have stated that the Vande Bharat sleeper trains will provide passengers with a jerk-free, smooth ride experience, surpassing that of the Rajdhani trains. This improvement is attributed to the use of different couplers and an optimized design.

Vande Bharat Sleeper coaches: The prototype of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train has 16 coaches. The composition of these coaches includes a single AC 1st class coach, along with 4 AC 2 tier coaches and 11 AC 3 tier coaches. This configuration will allow the train to accommodate a total of 823 passengers in its berths.

Vande Bharat sleeper launch date: ICF GM U Subba Rao has said that the Vande Bharat sleeper train is undergoing minor tweaks and tests at ICF. This is expected to be completed by mid-November after which the train will be extensively tested by RDSO for around 2-3 months. With this timeline, the Vande Bharat sleeper may be launched for passenger operations in early 2025.