Prototype Rollout Delayed Again
The first Vande Bharat Sleeper prototype being manufactured at the upgraded Marathwada Rail Coach Factory in Latur will now be ready by March 31, 2027, marking another delay in the ambitious sleeper-train programme.
Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) Chairman and Managing Director Saleem Ahmad confirmed the revised timeline at the company’s 23rd annual general meeting. The prototype was originally targeted for June 2026 before the deadline was moved to December 2026. It has now been pushed further to March 2027.
Indo-Russian Joint Venture Building the Trains
The sleeper trains are being manufactured through Kinet Railway Solutions Ltd, an Indo-Russian joint venture between RVNL and Russian rolling-stock manufacturer Transmashholding (TMH).
Under the project, Kinet is responsible for manufacturing 120 Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets, with each train consisting of 16 coaches. This translates into a total requirement of 1,920 coaches.
The project is valued at approximately ₹14,400 crore, including a 35-year maintenance commitment.
Latur Emerges as a Major Manufacturing Hub
The upgraded Marathwada Rail Coach Factory in Latur is playing a central role in the programme. Manufacturing work on the prototype is already progressing at the facility.
The project is significant for Maharashtra’s Marathwada region as it places Latur among the locations contributing to India’s growing domestic railway manufacturing capabilities.
The facility is expected to support the production of a substantial number of sleeper trainsets once prototype development, testing and approvals are completed.
Prototype Development Must Be Followed by Testing
The revised March 2027 deadline applies to the prototype rollout and does not mean that passenger services will begin immediately.
New rolling stock typically needs to undergo extensive testing and trials before entering regular passenger service. The Railway Ministry has previously said that the Vande Bharat Sleeper programme will proceed through prototype development, testing, trials and then series production, with induction into passenger service taking place in phases depending on demand and operational readiness.
This means further time will be required after the prototype is completed before the trains can be deployed widely.
A Larger Sleeper Train Programme Is Underway
The Kinet project is part of a much broader Vande Bharat Sleeper manufacturing programme.
The Railway Ministry has planned 260 Vande Bharat Sleeper rakes in total, with production being undertaken through multiple manufacturers and technology partners. BEML, Kinet Railway Solutions and the Titagarh Rail Systems-BHEL consortium are among the entities involved in the programme.
The first operational Vande Bharat Sleeper service has already been developed by BEML and began operating between Howrah and Kamakhya earlier this year, meaning different production programmes are progressing on separate timelines.
What the Delay Means for Passengers
The latest deadline extension means passengers waiting for more Vande Bharat Sleeper services may have to wait longer for additional trainsets from the Latur production programme.
Sleeper variants are particularly important for long-distance journeys because they combine the Vande Bharat platform with overnight travel. Their wider rollout could eventually provide passengers with a faster and more modern alternative to conventional overnight trains on major routes.
However, the March 2027 date remains a prototype rollout target, rather than a confirmed date for regular passenger operations.
RVNL Expands Beyond Traditional Rail Infrastructure
The development also reflects RVNL’s expanding role in the railway sector. The company is increasingly moving beyond conventional infrastructure projects into rolling-stock manufacturing, telecommunications infrastructure and projects secured through competitive bidding.
During FY2025-26, RVNL said it commissioned and handed over 173.82 km of railway infrastructure to Indian Railways and completed 23 km of tunnel excavation.
The Vande Bharat Sleeper programme therefore represents an important part of RVNL’s broader expansion into manufacturing and advanced railway technology.
Summary
RVNL has extended the deadline for its first Vande Bharat Sleeper prototype at Latur’s Marathwada Rail Coach Factory to March 31, 2027, after earlier targets of June and December 2026. The Indo-Russian joint venture Kinet Railway Solutions is developing 120 16-coach trainsets under a ₹14,400-crore project. The prototype will require testing before passenger operations begin.
