India will open its first Vande Bharat sleep coach maintenance depot at Jodhpur, Rajasthan, by mid-2026. This world-class depot, which will be constructed at an estimated cost of ₹360 crore at Bhagat Ki Kothi railway station by the North Western Railway in association with Railway Vikas Nigam Limited and the Russian-Indian joint venture enterprise Kinet Railway Solution.
The initiative will be implemented in two stages. Party 1 is expected to complete the first phase by June 2026, which includes a 600-metre track facility that can service (and maintain) 24 Vande Bharat sleeper coaches at a time. This phase itself will involve an expenditure of ₹167 crore. The second phase, which is expected to be ready by June 2027, will feature a 178-m track workshop and state-of-the-art simulator facilities for training and testing equipment, costing ₹195 crore.
This facility will only cater to the new sleeper versions of Vande Bharat trains, which are scheduled to be introduced soon. It features state-of-the-art equipment for accurate maintenance processes, including the lifting of entire train rakes, a method of bogie transfer on a drop-pit table, wheel-turning systems, and a three-tier inspection system that allows for the simultaneous attention to more than one train. The facility will also contain a dedicated wheel rack system and the latest generation of testing laboratories. Staff will be trained, and high-tech equipment will be tested using simulators to match Indian Railways’ efforts in improving safety, performance, and productivity.
The Jodhpur depot will be strategically located in the North Western Railway zone and will be able to handle eight to nine Vande Bharat sleeper trains daily. Every four days, or after 3,500 kilometres of travel, routine maintenance is planned to ensure the vehicle operates smoothly and meets safety standards.
This Jodhpur facility is one of five depots being built in India. The other four are in Anand Vihar (Delhi), Thanisandra (Bengaluru), and Wadi Bandar (Mumbai). This illustrates how Indian Railways is expanding across the country and building the necessary infrastructure for the sleeper Vande Bharat trains.
This new development is a big step forward in modernizing India’s rail infrastructure. It will enable precise maintenance and smooth operation of the new-generation Vande Bharat sleeper trains, making long-distance travel more comfortable and safe for passengers.