New Delhi: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has refuted claims suggesting that delays in manufacturing Vande Bharat sleeper trains stem from design clearance issues. Speaking to the media on Thursday, Vaishnaw stated that the design of the sleeper trains, developed in collaboration with Russian firm Transmashholding (TMH), was never a problem.
Contrary to media reports alleging that modifications to include toilets and a pantry car caused the delay, Vaishnaw clarified that the actual challenges lay in the firm’s limited manufacturing capabilities. He explained that Russian trains typically have fewer coaches—around six to eight—while Indian requirements demand train sets with 16, 20, or even 24 coaches to accommodate larger passenger volumes.
The minister emphasized that the contract explicitly mentioned the need for these larger configurations and that the firm was provided with the Vande Bharat train design to follow. “The company needs to enhance its manufacturing teams to meet these specifications,” Vaishnaw said.
Reports of unapproved design changes, he noted, are baseless, as the Ministry has resolved the firm’s concerns about coach configurations and manufacturing requirements. With these issues addressed, the production of the 1,920 sleeper coaches stipulated in the contract is expected to commence soon.
This clarification underscores the government’s commitment to timely delivery and adherence to specifications for the Vande Bharat sleeper trains, which will play a critical role in enhancing India’s rail infrastructure.
