TRSL & BHEL Inaugurate Production Line for Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains in Kolkata
Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), in collaboration with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), has inaugurated a dedicated production line for the Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains at TRSL’s advanced manufacturing facility in Uttarpara, Kolkata, West Bengal.
The ceremony was graced by senior leadership from both organizations, including Mr. Umesh Chowdhary, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, TRSL, and Ms. Bani Varma, Director, BHEL.
This production line has been established as part of a contract awarded by Indian Railways to the TRSL-BHEL consortium for the design and manufacture of 80 Vande Bharat Sleeper train sets. Valued at approximately ₹24,000 crore, the project includes 35 years of long-term maintenance and stands as a landmark under the Government of India’s Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
The sleeper variant of Vande Bharat will be India’s first long-distance, semi high-speed train offering fully indigenous design, superior passenger comfort, and cutting-edge safety features. With a modern coach layout, smart onboard systems, and energy-efficient operations, the train is designed to deliver a transformative experience for intercity travel across India.
Umesh Chowdhary, Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Titagarh Rail Systems, said, “This is a proud moment for the Titagarh Rail Systems- BHEL teams. The Vande Bharat Sleeper project is a shining example of what can be achieved when the public and private sectors come together with a shared vision, and strive towards a truly Aatmanirbhar Bharat. This production line reflects our commitment to building future-ready mobility solutions and contributing meaningfully to the vision of a more connected and self-reliant India.”
With production now underway at the Uttarpara plant, the prototype of Vande Bharat Sleeper trains are expected to roll out in the next calendar year—ushering in a new era of faster, smarter, and proudly Made-in-India rail travel. The Uttarpara facility itself is a cornerstone of this vision. With Industry 4.0 technologies and robotic production lines, it represents a significant step forward in India’s rail manufacturing capabilities. As the only site in the country equipped to produce both stainless steel and aluminium coaches under one roof, it currently has an annual capacity of 300 coaches, which is being scaled up to 850 to meet increasing demand.
