India’s first self-propelled, semi-high speed train to roll out in June

Indian Railways will replace Shatabdi Express trains with its first engine-less semi-high speed train for inter-city travel in June this year. The train boasts of world-class amenities and has been completely manufactured in Chennai under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious ‘Make in India’ programme.

The train that has been codenamed ‘Train 18’ after the year its year of manufacture, is self-propelled like the Metro trains and capable of traveling at speeds of 160 kmph. THe train will have driving cabins on both ends and coaches will be inter-connected with fully sealed gangways.

Compared to current trains, it will cut down travel time by at least 20 per cent, and will include two executive chair cars and 14 non-executive chair cars with a capacity of 56 and 78 passengers respectively. Amenities include automatic sliding doors, zero discharge vacuum-based bio-toilets, diffused lighting and modular toilets, fully air-conditioned with WiFi and GPS-based passenger information system. It will also include space for parking wheelchairs in a bid to make them disabled-passenger friendly.