Rail Vikas Nigam Limited has revised the timeline for the first Vande Bharat sleeper prototype from its Marathwada factory in Latur, with the trainset now expected to roll out in December 2026 instead of the previously targeted June deadline.
RVNL Chairman and Managing Director Saleem Ahmad disclosed the six-month deferral during the company's fourth-quarter earnings call, highlighting the strategic importance of the ₹14,400-crore project that includes a 35-year maintenance commitment.
The prototype will be manufactured by Kinet Railway Solutions, a joint venture between RVNL and Russian rolling stock manufacturer Transmashholding, at the 351-acre Marathwada Rail Coach Factory. The facility features 11 advanced assembly stations and specialised workshops including car body, warehouse, testing, bogie and paint shops, with internal tracks stretching 8. 6 kilometres. Production has already commenced at the Latur factory, with design work in advanced stages.
The joint venture has been tasked with manufacturing 120 trainsets, each comprising 16 coaches, which will bring total coach production to 1,920 coaches. Once the prototype is built, it will undergo rigorous trials and safety clearances before moving to mass production. Regular manufacturing is expected to commence in the 2026-27 financial year alongside the prototype rollout, with the full order scheduled for delivery by 2032.
The sleeper variant is designed for speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour and will accommodate 823 passengers per rake across three air-conditioned classes. Each coach will include three toilets and a small pantry. The Ministry of Railways awarded contracts for the Vande Bharat sleeper to three manufacturers, including Kinet Railway Solutions, the BHEL-Titagarh consortium, and BEML, which already launched commercial operations between Howrah and Kamakhya in January 2026.