Train 18: India’s First Engine-Less Train

The Indian Railways Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani on Monday has unveiled the Rs 100-crore indigenously developed high-tech engineless train.

Officials said India’s first trainset, Train 18 will be a game-changer for the Indian Railways.

The trainset was conceived, designed and developed in about 18 months’ time at nearly half the cost that is normally incurred for such development.

Speaking to IANS earlier, S. Mani, General Manager, ICF, said the train with a capacity to touch the speed of 160 kmph will replace the Shatabdi Express.

“With 16 coaches, the train will have the same passenger carrying capacity. There are now separate power cars. But it is about 15-20 percent energy efficient and leaves less carbon footprint,” Mani said.

The fully air-conditioned train offers better passenger comfort and safety, as all equipment are fixed under the carriage/coach so that more space is available on board.

In the Executive Class, the seats are rotatable to match the train direction. The Train 18 will have modern look with continuous windows on the exterior and the total seating capacity will be 1,128.

On the safety front, it has the Train Management System in the driver’s cab to ensure precise brake control and automated doors control.
The coach doors will open only when the train touches zero kmph and the train will start only when all the coach doors are properly closed.

There are emergency talk-back units (through which passengers can talk to the crew in case of emergency) and CCTVs are provided in all coaches for safe and secure travel, officials had said earlier.

CCTV cameras on both sides of the driving cab would help the driver monitor the movement of passengers on the platform before closing the doors and starting off. ICF would roll out six such trains.

Source :IANS

Image Courtesy: ANI