Vande Bharat (sleeper trainset)

Most long-distance train travel in India takes more than twelve hours to complete, making it hectic for commuters. For example, the Mumbai Rajdhani Express between Mumbai and New Delhi takes about 15 hours and 32 minutes. The introduction of a semi-high-speed train with modern coaches would reduce travel time significantly.[6] Hence Indian Railways started to upgrade the tracks as well as design new train rakes that could match the passenger rail standards operated across the developed world.[4]

During the design phase of Vande Bharat, Indian Railways had also planned to introduce a long-distance, sleeper version of the train to replace the 50-year-old Rajdhani Express.[7][2] The EMU train with aluminium coaches, a first of its kind in India, was estimated to cost ₹2,500 crore (US$310 million). It was expected to roll out by 2020, hence it was named "Train 20" similar to its counterpart, Vande Bharat Express, which was initially called "Train 18".[8]

According to the designers, the aluminium body would make it lighter, energy efficient and aesthetically 'better looking'. Companies from Japan, China and Europe were said to be in the race to win the bid for the design consultancy contract for Train 20. The tender as said by the officials was supposed to be finalised by mid-February 2018. ICF planned to build two train rakes by 2020 and thereafter add 24 more trains to the service in future.[9] Although the pre-bid conference had attracted around seven global players, the Stadler-Medha consortium emerged as the sole bidder after final submission. Others lacked a pre-condition which said that the manufacturer should have an existing manufacturing facility in India. The authorities then began to examine the bid submitted by the Swiss consortium.[10]

In July 2018, the Nallasopara-Virar train shed which was built by Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation, emerged as a shed which likely would maintain the Train 20 rakes. Western Railways was likely to operate the train which could potentially run from Mumbai to New Delhi.[11]

Indian Railways received a rap from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion which red-flagged the initial tender, stating that it was not in line with India's ambitious 'Make in India' project. Hence, a brand new tender was said to be floated with reworked conditions that would also take care of the interests of domestic manufacturers.[12]

In 2022, the Government of India Floated Tenders to construct 200 new Sleeper class Vande Bharat Express.[5] In March 2023, the Government of India announced that the contract for the production of the trains was awarded to TMH, a Russian rolling stock company.[13]