New Delhi: Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) on Thursday said it has commenced the supply of semi-high-speed underslung traction transformers for the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train project, reinforcing its growing role in India’s rail transportation and propulsion systems segment.
The first set of traction transformers was flagged off from BHEL’s Jhansi plant as part of the project being executed by a BHEL-led consortium with Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd (TRSL). Earlier, BHEL had supplied traction converters for the same project from its Bengaluru facility, the company said in a statement.
With this development, BHEL has strengthened its strategic entry into the semi-high-speed propulsion segment, supporting trains with an operational speed of up to 160 kmph and a design speed of 180 kmph. The transformers will be dispatched to Kolkata for final assembly of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train sets.
In addition to traction transformers and converters, BHEL said it has also developed and manufactured traction motors for the project at its Bhopal unit, underscoring the company’s end-to-end indigenous capability in rail propulsion equipment.
Separately, BHEL’s Jhansi unit has recently secured an order for Rail Borne Maintenance Vehicles (RBMVs), expanding its footprint beyond conventional rolling stock into specialised railway infrastructure equipment. The RBMVs, used for construction, inspection and maintenance of railway tracks, will be designed and manufactured domestically at the Jhansi plant, in line with the Centre’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
BHEL said the latest milestones reaffirm its role in indigenising complex technologies for locomotives and distributed power trains, as the engineering major looks to capitalise on rising investments in railway modernisation and semi-high-speed rail projects across the country.