Indian Railways is reportedly preparing to introduce Vande Bharat Sleeper trains in Vijayawada Division by Dasara, extending the premium trainset concept to longer overnight journeys.

Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset at the SMVT Bengaluru railway yard
Archive photo of a Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset at the SMVT Bengaluru railway yard. Photo: Sameer2905 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Vijayawada Division prepares for sleeper services

Railway officials are working toward bringing the sleeper version of Vande Bharat to the region in the coming months, according to the original report from Deccan Chronicle⁠.

However, the report does not identify a proposed route, train number, timetable or exact launch date. The reference to Dasara therefore remains a planning target rather than a confirmed service announcement.

Vijayawada is already served by Vande Bharat chair-car trains linking the city with Secunderabad, Chennai and Visakhapatnam. A sleeper train would serve a different market by providing overnight accommodation for passengers travelling longer distances.

The planned trainsets are expected to include First AC, AC Two-Tier and AC Three-Tier accommodation. Reported onboard features include LED lighting, sound-insulated interiors, Wi-Fi connectivity, charging points, automatic doors and monitoring systems intended to support passenger safety.

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A 16-coach trainset for overnight travel

The sleeper version is designed as a 16-coach air-conditioned trainset. The standard formation presented by the Government of India⁠ consists of one First AC coach, four AC Two-Tier coaches and eleven AC Three-Tier coaches.

This configuration provides approximately 823 passenger berths. The official specification also gives the train a design speed of up to 180 km/h, while operation at up to 160 km/h depends on the capability and readiness of the route.

The design includes improved berth cushioning, automatic exterior doors, passenger-information systems and accessibility features. Unlike the existing Vande Bharat chair-car fleet, the sleeper trainsets are intended specifically for long-distance and overnight services.

India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper service was introduced on the Howrah–Guwahati corridor in January 2026. The proposed deployment in Vijayawada Division would expand the train type into another important southern railway region, but passengers must await a formal announcement confirming its route, schedule and starting date.

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