Uttarpara, West Bengal: In a significant milestone for India’s rail infrastructure, Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), in partnership with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), has inaugurated a dedicated production line for Vande Bharat Sleeper trains at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Uttarpara, West Bengal.
The facility has been developed under a consortium between TRSL and BHEL as part of a ₹24,000 crore contract awarded by Indian Railways. The agreement covers the design, manufacturing, and 35-year maintenance of 80 Vande Bharat Sleeper train sets – India’s first long-distance, semi-high-speed trains featuring sleeper coach configurations.
The inauguration ceremony saw the presence of key industry leaders, including TRSL’s Vice Chairman and Managing Director Umesh Chowdhary and BHEL Director Bani Varma, who emphasized the project’s role in modernizing India’s railway ecosystem.
These new Vande Bharat Sleeper trains are being designed with a focus on enhanced passenger comfort, indigenous technology, smart onboard systems, modern layouts, and robust safety features.
With production now underway, the first prototype is expected to roll out in the next calendar year. The Uttarpara facility is uniquely equipped with Industry 4.0 technologies and robotic production lines, making it the only plant in the country capable of manufacturing both stainless steel and aluminium rail coaches under one roof.
Currently operating with an annual capacity of 300 coaches, the plant is being scaled up to produce up to 850 coaches annually to meet the growing demand for high-quality rail travel across India.
