The 24-car Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset is moving closer to production, according to the General Manager of Integral Coach Factory. (Image: Ministry of Railways/File)Vande Bharat Sleeper 24-car trainset: The production of 24-car Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset is set to begin at Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF). The factory will manufacture 50 such trainsets. At present, only one Vande Bharat Sleeper train is in operation, running between Howrah and Kamakhya. The 16-coach semi-high-speed train has 11 Third AC, four Second AC and one First AC coach. The Ministry of Railways plans to roll out more such train in the coming months.On Saturday, ICF General Manager Manish Agarwal confirmed the development while addressing the gathering at the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the M Arun Sports Complex (ICF Stadium).Agarwal said that the production drawings for the 24-car Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset are ready. The drawings cover the coach structure, coach-to-coach interfaces and underframe equipment. He said that production of the 24-car Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset will begin soon.“Production drawings for structural and fabrication assemblies, coach-to-coach interfaces and underframe equipment layouts have been prepared for the indigenous 24-car Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset to be produced shortly,” he said.Also Read | India’s first private train: Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express to run as ‘Sprite Tejas Express’The GM also shared updates on the Amrit Bharat Version 3.0 and the Vande Bharat-based freight train. He said that the next-generation Amrit Bharat trains will have AC, general and sleeper class coaches, offering an economical and comfortable travel option for passengers. At present, Amrit Bharat trains have only general and sleeper class coaches.On the Vande Bharat-based freight train, Agarwal said that ICF has developed Freight Electric Multiple Unit (Freight EMU) trainsets, expanding the use of indigenous trainset technology beyond passenger services. The trainsets have attracted interest from stakeholders and could bring a major change in freight transportation, particularly for white goods.He also highlighted some of ICF’s recent developments, including the country’s first 15-car EMU rake for Mumbai suburban services and non-AC EMU coaches equipped with automatic sliding doors to improve passenger safety.Story continues below this adICF has also upgraded the interiors of Kolkata Metro coaches with improved aluminium paneling, ceilings and single-piece sidewall panels, along with advanced safety features.Anish Mondal is a journalist with over nine years of experience covering the railways and roadways. Currently a member of the Indianexpress.com editorial team, Anish specializes in high-impact sectors. Professional Journey Anish began his career at the public broadcaster Rajya Sabha Television (now Sansad TV), where he developed a foundational understanding of legislative processes and national governance. In 2018, he transitioned to digital financial journalism at FinancialExpress.com, spending nearly six years refining his expertise in market trends and corporate reporting. Before joining The Indian Express in 2025, he served as a key contributor at ETNowNews.com. Education & Expertise Anish’s reporting is backed by a rigorous academic background in communication and the humanities: Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) – Apeejay Stya University Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Production (PGTVRJP) – Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication Bachelor of Arts (English Honours) – University of Calcutta Areas of Coverage Connectivity: Detailed reporting on the expansion of Indian Railways and National Highway networks. ... Read More