Vande Bharat sleeper trains in Odisha! Why feasible? Explained

The Indian Railways is on the verge of rolling out its most ambitious upgrade to long-distance train travel yet in the form of the Vande Bharat Sleeper. Designed to combine speed, safety, and overnight comfort, the train is being positioned as a game-changer for passengers who travel hundreds of kilometres across India in a single journey.

On 15th January 2025, a 16-coach prototype completed its 540-km trial run between Mumbai and Ahmedabad under the supervision of the Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO). 

Built by the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, the train incorporates a host of modern features, including the KAVACH collision avoidance technology, crashworthy coach design, regenerative braking, automatic plug doors, CCTV in every coach, and ergonomic ladders for upper berths. 

Passenger amenities include cushioned berths, on-board Wi-Fi, PRM-friendly toilets, air-conditioned coaches with centralised control, and even shower facilities.

Following the successful trial, Indian Railways has lined up the production of nine more 16-coach sets by December 2025, with 24-coach variants expected from 2026–27. The first service is anticipated to launch in September this year, ahead of the festive travel rush.

Why Odisha Stands to Benefit

Odisha’s rail network already has a growing Vande Bharat footprint, with multiple chair-car services like Puri–Rourkela and Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam linking major economic and cultural hubs. However, these trains cater primarily to daytime travellers.

For passengers covering longer hauls, such as the Bhubaneswar-New Delhi run, which currently takes up to 30 hours, overnight sleeper services remain the norm.

A Vande Bharat Sleeper on this corridor could potentially cut travel time to around 17 hours, offering a faster, more comfortable alternative to conventional express trains. Other long-distance routes, such as Bhubaneswar–Bengaluru and Bhubaneswar–Hyderabad, which presently require 22–30 hours, also fit the profile for such premium services.

Also Read | Fresh proposal for Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project soon: Urban Development Minister

Infrastructure-wise, Odisha is well-positioned. Existing electrified corridors, upgraded signalling systems, and the operational success of current Vande Bharat services make the integration of a sleeper variant technically feasible. Passenger demand is also strong as long-distance trains on these routes often operate at or near full occupancy.

The Road Ahead

For now, Indian Railways is focusing on high-demand national corridors for the Vande Bharat Sleeper’s debut. But with manufacturing ramping up and the first batch entering service within months, the question is less about capability and more about allocation.

Given its busy inter-state links, Odisha could well be among the early beneficiaries once the network expands in the future. And people can have the Vande Bharat Sleeper services in Odisha. Surprisingly, estimates on social media point to a possible 2027 or later rollout of these premium trains in the state. However, there has been no such announcement by the railways so far.