Train 18 With The Passenger Carrying Capacity Of 1,128 Will Replace The Shatabdi Express

Train 18 is the first engine-less train produced in India. Last Monday, Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani flew the green flag for the first running trial of the hi-tech train. The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) will reportedly launch 6 such trains.

Train 18 possesses the modern design with 16 coaches and separate power cars, white as a primary color and a dash of blue. It is also known as a challenge to the Indian Railways because the train is manufactured in only 18 months and at nearly half the cost over other normal ones.

According to IANS, it can reach the maximum speed of 160 kmph and will become an alternative for the Shatabdi Express. Train 18 have the same seating capacity as the Shatabdi Express but its outstanding points are economizing approximately 15-20% energy consumption (due to an advanced braking system) as well as reducing the carbon emission.

Also, every end of the trains has a separate driver cabin, so that it doesn’t need to turn its head and can move faster between destinations. One more fun thing, assembling the alternative coaches promises to optimize the precise acceleration/deceleration and the distribution of motive power.

Train 18 is equipped with the full air-conditioner bringing the more comfort to passengers. The seats in the Executive Class can rotate pursuant to the train direction.

To ensure safety, the train only opens the coach doors when its velocity is zero, and it only moves when shutting down these coach doors.

CCTVs and emergency talk-back units are also assembled in the coaches as a protection method for passengers. Besides, through CCTVs in the driver’s cabin, he easily overlooks passengers’ movement on the platform before the door is shut down.