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WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
India’s first indigenously designed locomotive-less (engine less) train known as Train 18, breached the 180 kmph speed limit during test run in Kota-Sawai Madhopur section.
ABOUT TRAIN 18
A train in a traditional manner consist of Locomotive (also called “The Engine” in general term) which pulls Wagons/coaches.
ABOUT TRAIN 18
Electric multiple units (EMU)
ELECTRIC MULTIPLE UNIT
An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages. Some of the more famous electric multiple units in the world are high-speed trains: the AGV in France, Italian Pendolino, Shinkansen in Japan, the China Railway High-speed in China and ICE 3 in Germany.
ABOUT TRAIN 18
Was designed and built by Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Chennai under the Indian government’s Make in India Initiative over a span of 18 months. The unit cost of the first rake was given as ₹100 crore (US$14 million), though the unit cost is expected to go down with subsequent production.
ABOUT TRAIN 18
It has a driver coach at each end of the train, allowing for faster turnaround at each end of the line. Internally, the train has 16 passenger cars
ABOUT TRAIN 18
It will replacing current 30-year-old Shatabdi Express – a day train. Thus it is touted as next generation Shatabdi Express. It will be first long-distance train without separate locomotive (engine).
NOTES
These are of two types “Train 18” which will be a day train replacing Shatabdi Express and “Train 20” which will be an overnight train replacing Rajdhani Express.
NOTES
Reports suggest the train will start its commercial operation from as early as December 25 between New Delhi and Varanasi, which is also the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The indigenously-built Train 18 is the fastest train in India. (This video is being made on 5th December, so cannot be certain about launch date of train 18)
TRAIN 18 TO ALSO BE FIRE-PROOF
The engineless train also provides safety to passengers as its coaches are fitted with fireresistance fibre composites. In case of fire, these composite components do not generate poisonous gases, collapse, or spread molten material or droplets, thus keeping escape ways open for passengers to get out.
INDIA CAN EXPORT THESE TRAINS
- First the domestic demand will be met and then the overseas market would be looked at.
- The overseas demand depends on the kind of rail tracks they have. Medium income countries can certainly buy this train
NOTES
Among the features that enhance passenger comfort are inter-connected fully sealed gangways, automatic doors with retractable footsteps, onboard Wi-Fi and infotainment, GPS-based passenger information system, modular toilets with bio-vacuum systems, rotational seats which can be aligned in the direction of travel (available only in the executive class), roller blinds and diffused LED lighting, and disabled-friendly toilets. There are also emergency talk-back units, through which passengers can talk to crew in case of emergency, while CCTVs are provided in all coaches for safe and secure travel.
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