BHEL begins supply of traction transformers for Vande Bharat Sleeper Train project

New Delhi: State-owned engineering major Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has commenced the supply of semi-high-speed underslung traction transformers for the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train project, marking another milestone in its ‘Make in India’ initiatives in the rail transportation segment.

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The supply has begun for the prestigious project being executed by a BHEL-led consortium in partnership with TRSL. A flag-off ceremony for the first set of traction transformers was held at BHEL’s Jhansi plant, where Director (Industrial Systems & Products) Bani Varma and Director (Engineering, R&D) SM Ramanathan virtually flagged off the equipment. Earlier, traction converters for the same project were dispatched from BHEL’s Bengaluru unit.

With this development, BHEL has further strengthened its presence in the semi-high-speed propulsion segment. The traction systems being supplied are designed for operational speeds of up to 160 kmph, with a design capability of 180 kmph. The traction transformers will be transported to Kolkata for final assembly of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train sets. In addition, BHEL’s Bhopal unit has developed and manufactured traction motors for the project, underscoring the company’s integrated manufacturing capabilities.

Separately, BHEL’s Jhansi plant has also secured an order for Rail Borne Maintenance Vehicles (RBMVs), expanding its footprint in the specialised rolling stock segment of railway infrastructure. The RBMVs, which will be designed and manufactured at the Jhansi facility, are used for construction, inspection, repair and maintenance of railway tracks, helping enhance safety, ride comfort and asset life through reduced manual intervention and higher precision.

The RBMV order aligns with the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives, as the vehicles will be manufactured domestically, contributing to indigenisation and self-reliance in railway track maintenance technologies.

BHEL, one of India’s leading manufacturing enterprises in the energy and infrastructure sectors, provides indigenous solutions across power, transmission, transportation, defence and industrial segments. By indigenising complex technologies for locomotives and distributed power systems, the company continues to play a key role in advancing self-reliance in the country’s transportation and rolling stock ecosystem.

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