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Indian Railways plans centrally heated sleeper train, special Vande Bharat chair car for Kashmir - check features

Indian Railways is set to launch two new train services for enhan... Read More
Indian Railways eyes two special trains for Jammu & Kashmir! Indian Railways plans to introduce two new train services to enhance Kashmir connectivity in the coming month.

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A centrally heated sleeper train will operate between New Delhi and Srinagar, offering a 13-hour journey through snow-covered mountains and across the 359-m-high Chenab Bridge, which is the world’s highest railway arch bridge. The train will provide premium comfort but will not include second-class sleeper coaches, sources told ET.

Previously it was being speculated that the Vande Bharat sleeper would debut on the Kashmir route, but that doesn’t appear to be the case now.

Vande Bharat for Katra-Baramulla Route in Jammu & Kashmir


  • For the Katra-Baramulla route, an eight-coach Vande Bharat train with chair car seating will be introduced, a senior railway official told the financial daily.
  • The Vande Bharat Express for Jammu & Kashmir also incorporates specialised features including silicon heating pads for water tanks to prevent freezing, and toilets with warm air circulation through specially designed ducts.
  • In a first for Indian Railways, the loco pilots' front glass contains embedded heating elements to prevent frost formation in sub-zero temperatures.
  • The service will reduce the 246-km Katra-Baramulla journey time to three-and-a-half hours, significantly faster than the current 10-hour bus journey. Baramulla railway station lies 57 km beyond Srinagar.

Jammu & Kashmir Train Connectivity

Katra, which serves as the entry point to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and attracts numerous pilgrims, currently has a 16-coach Vande Bharat Express connection to New Delhi operating six days weekly.

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The railway official said, "Once the Katra-Baramulla Vande Bharat becomes operational, likely by late next month, passengers will be able to seamlessly journey from New Delhi to Katra in our existing Vande Bharat and then transfer to the new service to reach Srinagar or Baramulla."

Vande Bharat Sleeper Is Ready! When Will Indian Railways Roll Out New Train? Top 10 Features

Vande Bharat sleeper is ready! Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that the first prototype of the Vande Bharat sleeper variant is ready and will start undergoing trial runs soon. The new Indian Railways train will offer a better travel experience to passengers compared to the Rajdhani Express train in terms of speed, safety, passenger amenities & more. The first Vande Bharat sleeper train, manufactured by BEML, is currently with the ICF Chennai where it is being checked for quality standards. Once ICF gives the go ahead, the first Vande Bharat sleeper will undergo field trials by RDSO before being flagged off for passenger operations. What’s special about the Vande Bharat sleeper train? What features can railway passengers look forward to? We take a look:

What is the maximum speed of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train? The new Vande Bharat sleeper train, built on the Vande Bharat platform, is capable of attaining speeds of up to 180 km/h. It will run at a maximum permissible speed of 160 kmph on Indian Railways speed. Due to its faster acceleration and deceleration, Vande Bharat sleeper train will aim to have a higher average speed compared to the premium Rajdhani Express trains.

Vande Bharat Sleeper Configuration: The first prototype of Vande Bharat sleeper train consists of 16 passenger coaches. The configuration includes 11 AC 3 tier coaches, 4 AC 2 tier coaches, and a single AC First class coach.

Vande Bharat Sleeper: Indian Railways has incorporated numerous passenger-centric features in the Vande Bharat sleeper train, including specialised night illumination, integrated public announcement systems with visual displays, security cameras, modular pantry facilities, and various additional amenities.

Vande Bharat Sleeper: The new Indian Railways train will offer an enhanced jerk-free travel experience with special couplers. The design also incorporates 'crashworthy' components to enhance passenger safety during unexpected incidents.

The new Vande Bharat sleeper train incorporates design elements from European trains to enhance passenger comfort. The coaches are equipped with advanced amenities, and the berths feature additional padding to ensure a pleasant journey. The ladder to climb onto the upper berths has also been made more passenger-friendly.

Vande Bharat sleeper trains will come equipped with the KAVACH anti train collision system that has been indigenously designed. The train also makes use of regenerative braking systems for energy efficiency.

Vande Bharat Sleeper toilet: The new Vande Bharat sleeper train will be equipped with aircraft-style modular bio-vacuum toilets. The design includes a specially adapted toilet for disabled passengers, which also features a nappy changing station for infants. The AC First class coach toilet will have a shower compartment equipped with a hot water facility.

Vande Bharat Sleeper special features: The new Indian Railways train’s coaches feature automatic interconnecting doors in the coaches. The gangways are also completely sealed to ensure dust-free surroundings and efficient air-conditioning.

The new Vande Bharat sleeper train will have individual reading lights, power outlets for mobile phones and laptops, tables for refreshments, amongst other facilities. Vande Bharat sleeper train will have best-in-the-class GFRP panel interior. The exit doors operate automatically, opening only at station stops.



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