India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train achieves 180 km/hr during trial run

India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train successfully reached a top speed of 180 km/h during trial runs on the Sawai Madhopur–Kota–Nagda section under the West Central Railway zone. 

Significant Milestone

This achievement marks a significant milestone in Indian Railways’ journey to combine speed, comfort, and indigenous engineering.

Developed by BEML Limited under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, the sleeper train comprises 16 coaches — 11 AC 3-tier, 4 AC 2-tier, and 1 AC First Class. 

🚨 Vande Bharat sleeper train successfully achieved a top speed of 180 km/h. pic.twitter.com/TPTxtuDqyX

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During the trial, the fully loaded rake weighed 908 tons, including extra load, to test stability, braking, and vibration control at high speeds.

Remarkably, the train maintained excellent balance, with water in a glass remaining undisturbed during the run, highlighting its world-class suspension and engineering design.

Make In India

While the design speed of the trainset goes up to 220 km/h, the scheduled operational speed is expected to be around 160 km/h, depending on track conditions and safety clearances. The sleeper variant is specially designed for long-distance overnight travel, offering premium comfort and modern amenities for passengers.

Railway officials confirmed that the first commercial service is expected to be rolled out soon, connecting major cities on high-speed corridors. With this development, India takes a step closer to global standards in high-speed rail travel, showcasing the potential of indigenous technology and engineering excellence.

This successful trial demonstrates the country’s growing capability to design and operate world-class, high-speed, long-distance trains, reinforcing India’s commitment to modernizing its railway network with homegrown solutions.