India

Train 18 to change the face of Indian Railways by September

Picture Courtesy: Economic Times

Train 18, India’s much-awaited locally manufactured semi high-speed train, is expected to be launched in September, 2018. The train is built by Integral Coach Factory (ICF) of Chennai under PM’s Make in India programme. It is capable of running at a speed of 160 km per hour.

The luxury train was earlier scheduled for roll-out in July. When asked about the reason for the delay, ICF Chennai General Manager Sudhanshu Mani said, “There is no delay. The train has been built in record time of 16 months while it takes 2 to 3 years to manufacture such trains anywhere in the world. Earlier, the anticipated turnout time was July. We now expect to roll it out in September.”

Picture Courtesy: Economic Times

Train 18 is having no engine; it will be self-propelled on electric traction like the metro trains. Railway is planning to replace the existing intercity express trains including Shatabdis. ICF will make six such train sets, out of which two will have sleeper coaches.

The train has some striking features to enhance passenger comfort. The most prominent feature is that all coaches are inter-connected by fully sealed gangways to enable passenger movement from one coach to another. Other than automatic doors, the trains will have a number of other amenities, including super-comfortable seating, vacuum toilets, space for wheel chairs and disabled friendly restrooms.

Picture Courtesy: Economic Times

The trains will also have diffused lighting and GPS-based Passenger Information System. ICF also said that the footstep in the coach’s doorway will slide outward when the train stops at a station. This was designed so to ensure passengers alight safely and comfortably.

Train 18 will have a seating capacity of 1,128 passengers in its 16 coaches. Once on the track, it will put forth a benchmark in speed, comfort and safety on Indian railway tracks. Moreover, it would be lauded as another success story of PM’s Make-in-India programme.