Alstom to supply traction components for ICF’s Vande Sleeper trains

French rail major Alstom will be supplying traction components and other electrical equipment for Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets. A company statement said Alstom has been awarded a contract worth €144 million (approximately Rs 1285 crore) for the crucial equipment used in 17 Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets (408 cars/coaches). These systems will be supplied to Indian Railways’ Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.

The contract also includes preventive and corrective maintenance of the traction and major electric equipment, as well as support services, for a five-year period, after completion of warranty, at various railway depots. The equipment will be installed in 24-car sleeper trainsets on the Vande Bharat platform, designed to run at a maximum speed of 180 km/h, with a service speed of 160 km/h, the statement added.

In India, Alstom has engineering and industrial presence for components with the sites of Savli (bogies), Coimbatore and Maneja (bogies and traction equipment). The contract execution will be done at the Maneja site, with a prototype delivery expected to begin by August 2026 followed by serial production, which is due to commence in 2027. The maintenance contract will consequentially start in 2029.

Alstom said its Maneja site runs more than 20 local and export projects with a total capacity of 900,000 manhours in two shift operation.