TRSL & BHEL: A Powerful Partnership for Vande Bharat Sleeper

Titagarh Rail Systems (TRSL), in partnership with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL), has inaugurated a dedicated production line for Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Uttarpara, Kolkata, West Bengal. The ceremony was attended by senior leaders including TRSL’s Vice Chairman & Managing Director Umesh Chowdhary and BHEL Director Bani Varma.

This milestone follows the Indian Railways’ award of a significant contract to the TRSL-BHEL consortium for the design and production of 80 Vande Bharat Sleeper train sets, valued at approximately ₹24,000 crore, including long-term maintenance over 35 years. This project is among the largest of its kind and aligns with the national “Make in India” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives.

The Vande Bharat Sleeper variant will be India’s first long-distance, semi high-speed train featuring a fully indigenous design, superior passenger comfort, and advanced safety systems. With production underway, the prototype is expected to roll out in the next calendar year—ushering in a new era of rail travel in India.

The Uttarpara facility, equipped with Industry 4.0 technologies and robotic automation, is the only plant in India capable of manufacturing both stainless steel and aluminium coaches under one roof. With a current annual capacity of 300 coaches, the plant is being expanded to 850 coaches to meet rising demand.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.