Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has commenced the supply of semi-high-speed underslung traction transformers for the Vande Bharat sleeper train project, marking the start of deliveries of a key propulsion component for the upcoming sleeper variant of the Vande Bharat trainsets. The supplies are being made for trainsets being executed by a BHEL-led consortium with Titagarh Rail Systems Limited.
The first set of semi-high-speed underslung traction transformers was flagged off from BHEL Jhansi plant on 15 January 2026. The equipment is being dispatched to Kolkata, where final assembly of the Vande Bharat sleeper trainsets will be undertaken. The company stated that traction converters for the same project were earlier supplied from its Bengaluru facility.
The company said the development represents its entry into the semi-high-speed propulsion segment. The propulsion systems being supplied for the project are designed for an operational speed of up to 160 kilometres per hour, with a design speed of 180 kilometres per hour. In addition to the traction transformers, BHEL has developed and manufactured traction motors for the project at its Bhopal unit, expanding the range of propulsion equipment being supplied from within its manufacturing network.
The traction transformers are of an underslung configuration, which is intended to meet the space and performance requirements of modern sleeper trainsets designed for higher speeds compared with conventional long-distance passenger trains. The supplies form part of BHEL’s broader scope of work on propulsion and electrical systems for the Vande Bharat sleeper train programme.
Separately, the Jhansi unit has recently received an order for rail-borne maintenance vehicles, which are used for construction, inspection, repair, and upkeep of railway tracks. The company stated that the project falls under the specialised rolling stock segment of the railway infrastructure domain and will be executed at the Jhansi plant. The vehicles are intended to support track safety, ride comfort, and asset life by reducing manual labour and improving precision in maintenance activities.
BHEL said the rail-borne maintenance vehicle order reflects an expansion of the Jhansi unit’s role beyond conventional rolling stock and railway equipment. The vehicles will be designed and manufactured domestically at the Jhansi facility as part of the project scope outlined in the press release.
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited is an engineering and manufacturing enterprise engaged in the supply of equipment and systems for the power, transmission, transportation, defence, and industrial sectors. The company operates multiple manufacturing units across India and undertakes projects in domestic and overseas markets.