Train 18 – India’s Engine less fastest train performed trial run

The Train reached the 180 kmph speed limit during a test run

• India’s first self powered engine-less train, known as Train 18 was test run in New Delhi. The train reached 180 km/ph speed limit against the 160 km/ph designed speed control during the trial. The train is expected that it might even reach 200 km/ph.
• Train 18 breached the 180 kmph speed limit becoming the first train in the Indian Railway to travel at such speed. Railway minister Piyush Goyal also tweeted a video of the trial run when the train breached the 180 kmph mark.
• The train might be commenced in January – 2019 for the commercial run in the country. If all things go well, Train 18 will replace the current Shatabdi Express , the day train that is fastest intercity train in the country.
  

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  Making of Train – 18

• Train 18 is an Indian semi-high speed train and India’s first intercity electric multiple unit, a type of self-propelled engine-less train.
• It is also the first train to be designed and built entirely in India
• It 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.
  

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  Special Highlights of Train -18

• Train 18’s exterior appearance has been likened to that of a bullet train, with an aerodynamic narrowing of each end of the train.
• 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, with a seating capacity of 1,128 passengers. Two of the center compartments are first class compartments that seat 52 each, with the rest being coach compartments seating 78 each.
• According to the ICF, every alternative coach is motorised, to ensure even distribution of power and faster acceleration or deceleration. The train sports an advanced regenerative braking system which saves power.
• 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 and roller blinds and diffused LED lighting, and disabled-friendly toilets.
• 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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