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Integral Coach Factory (ICF)

Integral Coach Factory (ICF)

Manufacturing Facility

Appears in 1 story

Stories

India's 170-year-old railway gets its first high-speed sleeper

Built World

World's largest rail coach manufacturer, producing 4,000+ coaches annually

India's railways date to 1853, when the first train ran 21 miles from Bombay to Thane under British colonial rule. For 170 years, long-distance overnight travel meant cramped, aging coaches. On January 17, 2026, India launched its first high-speed sleeper trainβ€”a 16-coach air-conditioned service covering 958 km between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya) in 14 hours, three hours faster than existing options. The train entered commercial service on January 22, 2026, with a strict policy: no VIP quota, digital transactions only, and confirmed tickets exclusively. Recent announcements confirm plans for 260 Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets to transform long-haul travel.

Updated Feb 5