Delay in start of Vande Bharat sleeper service, serious issues found 

CHENNAI: Reports said there will be a delay in the much-awaited Vande Bharat sleeper services to start. It was found that safety standards were not followed in the manufacture of the train and there was a defect in the design. The service will start only after finding a solution to this. The speed of Vande Bharat Sleepers is 130-160 kmph. The railway board has clarified in a letter sent to the Railway Board Research Design and Standards Organization and the General Managers of Railway Zones that it is not possible to reach such a speed with the present design.

The size of the water tanks that store water in the toilets of the coaches is more than the specified size. In addition, the electrical equipment installed inside the coaches is heavy. Both of these are cited as the reasons for not being able to reach the specified speed. There are also defects in the installation of fire prevention systems and anti-collision protection systems. The letter states that there are defects in the communication system between the loco pilot, guard and train manager, the system for loco pilots to communicate with the station masters on the side where the train passes, and the braking system.

The sleeper train was manufactured by public sector undertaking Bharat Earth Movers Limited. After completion of the construction, it was sent to the Integral Coach Factory in October last year. Some defects were found and fixed there. Subsequently, serious defects were found during the inspection conducted by the safety commissioner.