ICF to launch new Vande Bharat prototypes by March 2024

India’s Integral Coach Factory (ICF) plans to launch India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train in March 2024. ICF is also working on the Vande Metro, a 12-coach train for short-distance travel, which is expected to be launched in January 2024. At present, the Vande Bharat trains are all seater coaches rendering them unsuitable for overnight journeys. The Vande Bharat Express, India’s semi-high-speed train, was first introduced in 2019 and is increasingly gaining popularity for its modern amenities and reduced travel time.