Nagpur: Assembly of two prototype Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets is progressing rapidly at Kinet Railway Solutions’ manufacturing facility in Latur, Maharashtra, marking a major milestone in India’s ambitious push towards advanced, domestically manufactured long-distance trains.
Kinet Railway Solutions, a joint venture between Russian rolling stock major Transmashholding (TMH) and India’s Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), is executing the Vande Bharat Sleeper project under a $6.5-billion contract awarded in March 2023.
The contract covers the design and manufacture of 120 Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets comprising 1,920 railcars, besides their maintenance for 35 years. The project also includes an engineering centre in Hyderabad and maintenance depots in Delhi, Jodhpur and Bengaluru.
Two prototypes being built in Latur
The two prototype trainsets under assembly at Latur will undergo extensive testing and customer acceptance trials before serial production begins. The trains are being manufactured in India by Indian engineers and workers, with Kinet gradually increasing the use of locally sourced components and materials.
The project is expected to strengthen India’s domestic rolling-stock supply chain by expanding the local supplier base and developing expertise in advanced railway manufacturing.
“Designed for speeds of up to 160 kmph, the Vande Bharat Sleeper trains feature distributed traction, regenerative braking and onboard diagnostics. They have been developed specifically for long-distance travel, with a strong focus on passenger comfort, accessibility and ergonomics,” said Sathyamurthy K, Managing Director, Kinet Railway Solutions, Latur.
The trains feature specially adapted sleeping berths and toilets for passengers with reduced mobility, sensor-operated doors, improved noise insulation and sealed gangways designed to prevent dust and dirt from entering the coaches.
The train’s design, led by Chief Designer Evgeny Maslov, has received international and Indian recognition, including the Red Dot Award 2026 for exterior design, as well as honours from A’ Design and India’s Best Design Award for its interior.
Technology transfer and workforce training
Technology and knowledge transfer are central to the project. More than 30 Russian specialists are currently working alongside Indian teams, while over 40 Latur employees have undergone training at production facilities and corporate universities in Russia.
Kinet is also introducing modern operating systems and the 3P methodology covering process and product design. Employees are being trained in specialised processes such as welding, painting, crimping, bonding, torquing, equipment installation and industrial safety.
An in-house training school with certification is also being developed at the facility, while engineering challenges are being resolved jointly by technical and production teams on the shop floor.
Major industrial boost for Latur and Marathwada
The Vande Bharat Sleeper project is expected to create a new advanced manufacturing ecosystem in Latur and the wider Marathwada region, traditionally dominated by agriculture and sugar industries.
Around 60% of Kinet’s local recruitment is being sourced from Latur and neighbouring areas, creating employment and training opportunities for ITI students, college graduates and engineers. The company is also running programmes such as the Graduate Engineer Trainee initiative.
The project is expected to generate business opportunities for local component manufacturers and suppliers while supporting the broader Make in India push.
The MRCF project site spans 351 acres, with six workshops and an internal railway track network stretching 8.6 km, highlighting the scale of the manufacturing infrastructure being developed in Latur.
