India-Russia Collaborate to Launch Futuristic Sleeper Coach

At the 2025 International Railway Equipment Exhibition (IREE) held in New Delhi, Kinet Railway Solutions, a joint venture between India and Russia, unveiled the design concept of the Vande Bharat Sleeper First AC coach, along with its 1:1 scale model and the updated train exterior design scheme.

This First AC four-berth sleeper coach features a neutral-toned interior with metal accents and Indian-style patterns co-developed with local artists, balancing practicality and comfort. It is equipped with USB charging ports, reading lights, ladders, storage compartments and additional hand luggage racks to fully meet passengers' needs.

The design stems from a contract signed between the company and Indian Railways in 2023, which includes supplying 120 Vande Bharat sleeper trains (totaling 1,920 coaches) and providing 35 years of maintenance services. The trains will be manufactured locally in India, with the interior and exterior designs currently being finalized jointly with the client.

Production will take place at the Latur factory, whose modernization is nearly complete, while a new maintenance depot is under construction in Jodhpur. As planned, the first prototype of the Vande Bharat sleeper train is expected to be launched in June 2026, which will further improve India's railway passenger services in the future.