State-owned engineering company BEML Limited has secured an additional order worth ₹180.60 crore from the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) for manufacturing and supplying Vande Bharat sleeper trainsets.
The contract strengthens BEML’s role in India’s expanding Vande Bharat programme as Indian Railways moves beyond the original chair-car configuration and increases its focus on long-distance overnight travel.
Order From Integral Coach Factory
The order has been placed by Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, one of Indian Railways’ major train manufacturing units.
BEML disclosed the contract through a regulatory filing, describing it as an additional order for the manufacture and supply of Vande Bharat sleeper trainsets.
The latest contract adds to the company’s growing railway order book and reinforces its position as one of the Indian manufacturers participating in the next phase of the Vande Bharat programme.
Vande Bharat Moves Into Overnight Travel
The sleeper version represents an important expansion of the Vande Bharat platform.
The original Vande Bharat trains were designed primarily for daytime intercity journeys with seating arrangements. Sleeper variants are intended for longer-distance overnight routes, combining the train family’s semi-high-speed capabilities with sleeping accommodation.
The first Vande Bharat sleeper service began commercial operations in January 2026, marking the start of a new phase for the train programme.
BEML Expands Its Railway Business
BEML is a public-sector engineering company under the Ministry of Defence with businesses spanning defence equipment, railway and metro coaches and heavy engineering machinery.
The company has increasingly expanded its presence in the rail and metro sector, where demand for modern trainsets and urban transportation equipment is growing.
The Vande Bharat programme has emerged as an important opportunity for BEML as Indian Railways seeks to introduce more domestically manufactured modern trainsets.
Large Sleeper Fleet Planned
The ₹180.60 crore order comes as Indian Railways prepares for a much larger expansion of Vande Bharat sleeper services.
More than 250 sleeper trainsets are planned across different manufacturing partners, creating a significant pipeline for companies involved in their production.
The expansion is expected to gradually bring faster and more modern overnight trains to additional long-distance routes.
What It Means for Passengers
Vande Bharat sleeper trains are being designed to combine overnight accommodation with modern passenger amenities and faster journey times where infrastructure permits.
The broader expansion could give passengers an alternative to existing premium overnight services while also helping Indian Railways modernise its long-distance fleet.
For BEML, the latest order provides another opportunity to deepen its involvement in India’s railway modernisation programme and build its capabilities in advanced trainset manufacturing.
Summary
BEML has won an additional ₹180.60 crore order from Integral Coach Factory to manufacture and supply Vande Bharat sleeper trainsets. The contract strengthens BEML’s position in India’s growing Vande Bharat programme, which is expanding from daytime chair-car services to long-distance overnight travel. The order comes as Indian Railways plans to introduce more than 250 Vande Bharat sleeper trainsets across the country.
