Shatabdi's successor, India's fastest-train called Train 18, to roll-out today
What's the story
The first indigenously build semi high-speed train is expected to roll out of Chennai's Integral Coach Factory (ICF) on Monday. The train named Train-18, because of the year it was built in, will run between Howrah and New Delhi. The engineless train, which is a result of 'Make In India' campaign, will run on similar trainset after satisfactory results of trials. Here's more.
Facilities
Seats can rotate 360-degrees, can be aligned in train's direction
The locomotive is seen as a successor of 30-year-old Shatabdi Express, but it is definitely an upgrade. It is laced with state-of-art facilities including seats that rotate 360 degrees. Passengers can align their seats in the direction of the travel. The train has Wi-Fi, inbuilt infotainment, vacuum toilets, sliding doors, and continuous windows. Just like the metro, the gates open only after train halts.
Details
The train has many features for passengers' comfort
To enhance the traveling experience, Train 18 has diffused lighting, automatic doors, and sliding footsteps. There is a charging point and GPS-based Passenger Information System at every seat, and CCTV cameras are installed inside the train. The two executive compartments of the train, which are placed in the middle, have 52 seats each. The trailer coaches have 78 seats each.
Time & distance
You can reach from Delhi to Howrah in just 12-hours
Apart from being modishly comfortable, the train is fairly fast. It is expected that it will cover the 1,400 km distance between Howrah to New Delhi in just 12 hours, running at a speed of 160km/hour. The Rajdhani Express takes 16 hours. It has greater acceleration as all coaches have traction, and as soon as loco-pilot starts it, all wheels start rolling by themselves.
Do you know?
ICF is building another train whose speed may reach 200km/hour
The first Train 18 only has seats, but ICF is building two more which will have berths. Rajesh Agarwal a member of Railway Board said the next series will be called Train 20, and it may achieve a speed of 200km/hour.