Indian Railways flags furnishing and workmanship faults on 16-car Vande Bharat sleeper sets; safety fixes, Kavach 4.0 fitment and RDSO compliance needed before service.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Delays
The rollout of India’s 16-car Vande Bharat sleeper trains faces fresh delay after the Railway Board flagged multiple furnishing and workmanship issues that must be fixed before the sets can enter regular service. In a formal letter to RDSO and railway general managers, the board detailed concerns ranging from sharp edges at berthing areas and faulty window curtain handles to pigeon-pocket gaps between berth connectors that hamper cleaning and passenger safety. The problems were significant enough for zones to be instructed to follow all RDSO conditions prior to operation at the design top speed of 160 kmph.
Railway sources say RDSO submitted updated compliance on 1 September 2025, but the ministry’s October 28 note to zones underscores that the route for sleeper Vande Bharat services remains to be finalised, and trials will continue until CCRS (Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety) signs off. Beyond fittings, the board emphasised core safety and operational requirements: proper fire-safety measures, fitment of Kavach 4.0 train protection, robust communication links between loco pilots, train managers and station masters, well-maintained braking systems and ready availability of trained technical staff and spares.
The ministry also ordered practical readiness measures: train crew training to uncouple semi-permanent couplers within 15 minutes during emergencies; temperature-setting protocols for passenger comfort; pre-recorded, multilingual safety announcements; and deployment of dedicated maintenance teams. Officials say these steps aim to prevent early operational teething problems and ensure passenger safety when the new 16-car rakes begin revenue runs.
