Tracks of Glory: BHEL to Forge India’s Fast Lane with Vande Bharat & Metro Coaches

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), in association with Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), has commissioned a cutting-edge production facility to produce Vande Bharat sleeper trains and metro coaches, a giant leap for Indian railways. The new Uttarpara, West Bengal facility was commissioned on April 25, 2025, after bagging a ₹24,000 crore order from Indian Railways for 80 sets of Vande Bharat sleeper trains and long-term servicing.

 

These Vande Bharat sleeper trains—India's first long-distance, semi-high-speed sleeper-configured trains—will be equipped with 16 coaches, 887 berths, and speeds of 160 km/h. Passengers can expect high-class luxuries like automatic doors, vacuum toilets, enhanced interior layouts, and advanced security systems, enhancing the comfort of night travel to unprecedented levels. The first prototype will be delivered in 2026 and large-scale production will commence June 2025.

 

The Uttarpara plant with Industry 4.0 and robot lines will also produce metros in-house to make metro coaches, allowing India's "Make in India" program and generating more jobs in India. The alliance places BHEL and TRSL at the forefront of rail manufacturing next-generation leadership with the promise of a new era of comfort, speed, and made-in-India ingenuity for Indian citizens.

 

Source: Industry Outlook, Metro Rail Today, Economic Times