NEW DELHI: The engineless train – Train 18, developed indigenously by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) provides safety to passengers as its coaches are fitted with fire-resistance fibre composites and also offers a fast and comfortable mode of transport.
Train 18 breeched the speed of 180 kmph between Kota Junction and Kurlasi station during a trial on December 2, efforts are on to launch the first indigenously-built Trainset on December 25 from New Delhi to Varanasi. “Christmas Day also happens to be the birthday of late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and it would be a tribute to the great statesman of the country if we manage to launch the next-generation train on that day,” a senior Railways official told IANS.
The official said that Train 18, which is self-propelled on electric traction like metro trains, will start replacing the existing train fleet of the Shatabdi Express next year.
Since the input cost of Train 18 which is Rs 100 crore is high; the fare structure will also be higher than the normal fare.
According to the tentative plan, Train 18 will start from New Delhi station at 6 am, and is expected to reach Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency, at 2 pm. For the return journey, the train will start at 2.30 pm, from Varanasi and reach the national capital at 10.30 pm.
Train 18 is currently undergoing trials under the supervision of Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), Lucknow. It has successfully completed a trial upto a speed of 180 kmph recently.
As per the railway ministry plans, the ICF will make six such train sets, out of which two will have sleeper coaches.