Engine-less Train 18 to will start trial on October 29

India’s first ever engine-less train, ‘Train 18’, thought to be an apt successor of 30-year-old Shatabdi Express, will start operating for trials on October 29. The train will be sans a separate locomotive and will be driven by self-propulsion module. The speed of the train will be 160 kmph and it will offer technical features for increased quick acceleration.

It will sport a swanky look with 16 coaches and will reduce the travelling time 15 per cent form what Shatabdi Express used to take.

Designed by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), it took 18 months to prepare the full air-conditioned train and most importantly, the passengers will have the opportunity to get a glimpse of the driver’s cabin.

Sudhanshu Mani, the General Manager of the ICF, told news agency PTI that the cost of train is nearly Rs 100 crore though the cost will come down in subsequent productions. “It will be unveiled on October 29, then it will do three to four days of trial outside the factory and then will be handed over to Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) for further trials,” Mani was quoted saying by PTI.

Train 18 will have CCTV cameras in two executive compartments of 52 seats and trailer coaches of 78 seats. Shatabdi Express offers a speed of 130 kmph.

Besides GPS-based Passenger Information System, Train 18 will have automatic doors and diffused lighting. However, Shatabdi Express had made its first appearance in 1988 and is currently operating on more than 20 routes connecting metro cities with other important cities.

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