Make in India Champaign’s successful venture Train 18, country’s first semi high-speed train is all set to run on the track by 15th December, to offer enthralling trips to the Indian commuters. This self driven engine-less train is capable of running at a speed of up to 160 kilometre per hour, with enhanced quick acceleration system.
Integral Coach Factory (ICF) of Chennai took 18 months to shape this semi high-speed train with 160 kmph, that is going to cut the travel time by 15 percent as compared to that of Shatabdi Express with 130kmph.
With 16 swanky full AC coaches, Train 18’s design allows the passengers to have a glance of the driver’s cabin right from their seats.
The train also have two executive compartments with 52 seats each, and trailer coaches have 78 seats each. The executive class have rotating seats to match the direction of the train.
According to the ICF General Manager Sudhanshu Mani, “The manufacturing cost of the prototype is nearly Rs 100 crores, and its subsequent productions are supposed to bring down the cost.”
Further commenting on the production of the first indigenous semi-high-speed train, ICF’s Public Relations Officer GV Venkatesan said,”If the train would have been a foreign product, the total cost would be around Rs 180 crore. With our own effort and minimum external consultancy, the project is being successfully brought about at Rs 100 crore.”
The new blue-nosed train featured with special amenities like on-board WiFi and a GPS-based passenger information system ,touch-free bio-vacuum toilets,diffused LED lighting,Mobile charging points,automatic climate control system that adjusts the temperature according to the weather.
