'Made In India' trains to replace Shatabdi Express
Shatabdi Express may have been the go-to choice for railway passengers, but soon they will be replaced by a self-propelled semi-high speed 'Made in India' train. Named Train 18, and manufactured at ICF (Integral Coach Factory) in Chennai, it will run at an average speed of 160km/hr. The train is reportedly manufactured at half the cost of a similar train imported from another nation.
Swanky coaches, automatic doors: A journey you'll remember
Train 18 is definitely the future of Indian Railways you always wanted. Reportedly, it will have a stainless steel body and continuous windows. The AC coaches will have diffused lighting, automatic inter-connecting doors for easy movements, energy-efficient LED lighting and bio-vacuum toilets. It will have 16 chair-car type seating, including executive and non-executive coaches having a capacity of 56 and 78 passengers respectively.
Think this is enough? There's a lot more
Train 18 will have driving coaches on both ends, and on arrival, a sliding footstep would guide the passengers to the platform. The train also has a space to park wheelchairs to make it more friendly for differently-abled passengers. As it uses improved energy efficiency, and air ducting, Train 18 is environment-friendly as well.
The Railways are getting a makeover
Notably, the Rail Ministry has decided to give 68 stations a complete makeover by end of this year. As a part of the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) model, the stations will soon get amenities like shopping complex, escalators, modern announcing system, and much more.
