Commencement of India’s maiden Vande Bharat sleeper trainset prototype production at BEML’s Bangalore complex

Bangalore: India’s ambitious rail project, Vande Bharat sleeper trainset today commences its maiden prototype production at Bangalore complex of BEML Ltd. The company, which has earlier bagged the prestigious order to manufacture and assemble complete trainsets at its complex, inaugurated to produce the trainset in the presence of Chief Guest, Shri Naveen Gulati, Member (Traction & Rolling Stock) Railway Board; and dignitaries including Shri B G Mallya, General Manager at Integral Coach Factory (ICF); Shri Srinivas S, Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer, ICF and Shri Shantanu Roy, CMD at BEML Ltd. 

The trainset will have best-in-class interiors with GFRP panels (lightweight and corrosion-resistant material) combined with aerodynamic exterior looks, crash worthy features, modular pantry, ergonomically designed odor free toilet system and modern passenger amenities for travelers. 

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BEML Ltd, which is country’s first company to manufacture all steel integrated rail coaches for operations in Indian Railways, had received orders from Indian Railways for designing, manufacturing and commissioning of 10 rakes of 16 cars of Vande Bharat sleeper trainsets. The Sleeper trainset of 16 cars  will have a passenger capacity of 823 passengers, put together in first class AC, 2 Tier AC and 3 Tier AC.

Inaugurating the production facility, Shri Naveen Gulati shared, “It is a matter of great pride for the country that BEML, in collaboration with Indian Railways, is rolling out one of India’s best passenger-focused train that emphasizes “Make in India” initiative and is at par with global standards”.

The trainset’s car body has been designed in order to meet the crash worthiness requirements using  new design crash worthy couplers and car body crash buffers. Shri B G Mallya said, “Vande Bharat’s success endorses our capability to produce world-class semi-high-speed trains at affordable cost that provide us an attractive option in the global rolling stock market”.

The trainset meets the requirement of hazard level 3 (HL3) of European rolling stock standards, which also embellished with specially designed fire barrier doors that are specially designed and provided at the coach ends for additional safety of the passengers. 

“Safety, Speed and Special experience were our major thrust points while designing this trainset for travelers. Our legacy enthralled with research and innovation in rail coaches manufacturing gives us appropriate impetus to build another milestone for the company and pride for the country,” Shri Shantanu Roy shared while enumerating key features of the project. 
Other than interiors and exterior furnishing items like front nose cone, BEML’s team put more focus into engineering propulsion system, bogie system, brake systems, HVAC and exterior plug doors.

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Salient Features: 
Best-in-class interiors with GFRP panels
Aerodynamic exterior looks
Modular pantry
Fire safety as per EN 45545, Hazard Level: 03
Crash worthy features
Special berths and toilets for differently abled
Automatic exterior passenger doors
Sensor based inter communication doors
Remotely operated Fire barrier doors at end wall
Ergonomically designed odour free toilet system
Toilet for driving crew
Shower with hot water in 1st AC car
Public announcement and visual information system
Modern passenger amenities
Spacious luggage room
Noise insulation and mitigation measures for silent saloon space

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