Indian Railways will soon start a trial run of India’s 1st Engineless train, and hold your breath.. It will replace the ever-dependable Shatabdi Express!
Meanwhile Department of Telecom or DoT
has indicated that starting October, air passengers will be able to make calls inside their flight, up above 35,000 feet amongst the clouds.
has indicated that starting October, air passengers will be able to make calls inside their flight, up above 35,000 feet amongst the clouds.
Train18: India’s 1st Engineless Train :-
Codenamed as Train18, this is India’s first engineless train.
A semi-high speed train, this will start its trial runs from September onwards. As per Ashwani Lohani, Chairman of Railway Board, the train will soon replace Shatabdi Express, and the first trial will be held between New Delhi and Bhopal, which right now runs the fastest Shatabdi route.
Train18 will run at 160 km/hr, without an engine.
He said, “Coaches of Train 18 will be able to take speeds of 160 kmph and given the current track conditions, the Delhi-Bhopal route would be best suited for it,”
Just like Metro trains, Train18 will be self-propelled train for inter-city travel, and will be India’s first. Right now, engineers are giving this train a final touch at Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Chennai, where it is being manufactured.
The trial run is expected to begin in September.
Features :-
1. Rather than being pulled by a locomotive, 'Train 18' sets are powered by traction motors fitted underneath each coach to render them self-propelled, just like metro trains. The made-in-India fleet was earlier scheduled for roll-out in June.
2. The Train 18, which is built by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, would promote Make in India, and is capable of running at a speed of 160 km per hour, the official said.
3. Train 18 series will replace existing fleet of the Shatabdi Express trains. The official also said the ICF will make six such train sets, out of which two will have sleeper coaches.
4. Laced with state-of-the-art features, all of its coaches will be inter-connected by 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 accessible toilet for people with disability.
5. Upon successful implementation of Train 18, the IFC will start working on 'Train 20' which will have an all aluminum body. Aluminum will make the train more aesthetic, lightweight, energy efficient, and durable.
2018 looks exciting for the travelers!
