Railway Board calls for design tweaks in Vande Bharat sleeper trains

The Railway Board has directed its Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO) to implement a few specific design rectifications in the new 16-car Vande Bharat sleeper trains before they are commissioned for passenger service.

This directive follows intensive trial runs conducted by the Commissioner of Railway Safety on the new train sets, which are designed to operate at a maximum speed of 160 kmph. These trains are equipped with the indigenous automatic train protection system — Kavach 4.0. The Railway Board has emphasized that the driver’s cab must be locked from the inside during operation to prevent unauthorized access.

It has also mandated compliance with several key safety measures, including safety integrity level (SIL) certification for all critical safety components, particularly those related to fire safety. Fire suppression systems must be installed in all cubicles and panels that are vulnerable to fire hazards, such as those caused by short circuits. Additionally, issues related to furnishing and workmanship — such as sharp edges and corners in berthing areas, window curtain handles, and pigeon pockets between berth connectors that pose cleaning challenges — have been identified and must be addressed.

Officials have been instructed to implement corrective measures in the current rake and incorporate necessary design improvements in future rakes. Staff must also be trained to handle issues such as defective doors, deflated springs, or communication failures, which could necessitate the withdrawal of a rake from service. Redundancy must be ensured for all critical systems, including communication, electrical, mechanical, and the fire detection and suppression system (FDSS), to guarantee fail-safe operation.

Train crews have been instructed to be capable of uncoupling the semi-permanent coupler within 15 minutes in case of an emergency. The necessary tools for this operation must be included in the driver/guard toolkit. Reliable communication systems must be provided in the cab to facilitate coordination between the loco pilot, train manager, and the nearest station master.

Stainless steel components such as auxiliary reservoirs, brake cylinders, and compressors should be color-coded for easy identification by maintenance personnel. A trained technical team must be available to address en-route technical issues and emergencies.

The public address system should make regular announcements instructing all non-passengers to disembark before the train’s departure. Additionally, pre-recorded safety announcements in three languages — regional, Hindi, and English — should be played during the journey to educate passengers on safety protocols.