After Vande Bharat Metro, now the sleeper version of the country’s first Vande Bharat is also ready. The new train will come out of the factory on September 20. The railways have set a target to make it available to passengers from December after two months of trial. In terms of convenience, safety, comfort and efficiency, it has been designed better than Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains.
Its air-conditioned bogies will automatically adjust the temperature according to the weather and requirement. There will be no need to speak to reduce or increase the cooling. Passengers will continue to get adequate oxygen during the journey.
Vande Sleeper will have world class facilities as compared to Rajdhani-Shatabdi trains
Unlike Vande Bharat and Vande Metro, the sleeper version is to be run on longer routes. It will be run between cities at a distance of 800 to 1200 km. The normal speed will be 130 to 160 km per hour. The experience will be like travelling in business class of an airplane. The facilities in Vande sleeper version will be world class as compared to Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains.
There will be facilities like camera, high level fire safety, special berths and toilets for the disabled, automatic doors, sensor based inter communication door, large luggage room charging for keeping luggage, reading lights, inside display panel and modular pantry.
Hot water shower facility for passengers
First class coaches have hot water bath facility for passengers. In such a case, the fare can be 10 to 15 percent higher. The AC coach is designed in such a way that there is no shortage of oxygen in the moving train.
This was considered necessary since Corona, because the oxygen level in AC coaches is around 0.25 cubic meters per person on an average, which has been increased to 0.35 cubic meters.
Stainless steel has been used in the bogies
Each coach weighs less than two tonnes. This will improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon footprint, which will help in achieving rail transport goals. Stainless steel has been used in the bogies for safety. A full armour system will be installed to prevent collision between two trains.
Capacity of 823 passengers
Vande Sleeper will have three classes of coaches. A total of 823 passengers can sleep and travel in one round in this train having 16 coaches. There will be 11 AC three-tier coaches which will have a total capacity of 611 passengers. There will be four AC two-tier coaches which will be able to accommodate a total of 188 passengers.
There will be only one first class coach, which will have a capacity of 24 passengers. However, the railways is also planning to install up to 24 coaches on routes where there will be a large crowd of passengers.