Indian Railways: 2 New ‘World Class’ Trains To Cut Travel Time By 20%

CHENNAI: By June this year, the railways will roll out a ‘first of its kind’ semi-high speed, self-propelled train set which will cut down the travel time by at least 20% in comparison to any train drawn by a loco due to faster acceleration and deceleration.

The Chennai-based Railways’ Integral Coach Factory (ICF) has designed the train sets and will manufacture the first with 16 fully air-conditioned coaches by June 2018.

Touted as Train 18, it will have ‘world-class’ passenger amenities such as on-board Wi-fi and infotainment, GPSbased passenger information system and plush interiors with diffused LED lighting.

The new train with aerodynamic nose for reduced drag and for improved aesthetics is likely to replace elite Shatabdi Trains currently used for superfast inter-city travel.

Another set of train, named Train 20, is likely to be launched in 2020. These will also be equipped with world class facilities to replace another elite train, Rajdhani Express, used in overnight travel. Both Train 18 and Train 20, ‘Make in India’ projects by ICF, will be manufactured for half the cost of imported train sets. The only difference will be that Train 20 will have an aluminium body while Train 18 will have stainless steel body.

The train sets (like EMUs), which will replace locomotive-hauled trains, will have continuous window glasses for a contemporary modern look; ‘automatic plug-type’ sliding doors and sliding footsteps which will open and close automatically at the stations and zero discharge vacuum-based bio-toilets.

ICF general manager S Mani said, “Train 18 can travel at speeds of up to 160 kmph. It will have worldclass facilities for passengers. First set of train will be ready by June 2018.”

A study shows the railways will be able to cut travel time by three hours and thirtyfive minutes on the 1,440-km Delhi-Howrah route. The Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express can go up to 150 kmph, but the average speed continues to be 90 kmph as there are several speed restrictions. Given that applying brakes and accelerating takes longer using locomotives, the ‘train sets’ will cut down on time. The reduction in journey time was calculated at a maximum permissible speed of 130 kmph and could come down further if the permissible limit is raised to 160 kmph.

contributed BY MAHENDRA K SINGH

India's New Bullet Train Will Travel Under Water

By Jordi Lippe-McGraw, www.travelandleasure.com

campuslive24.com

When it comes to upgrading its train service, India goes all out. Not only is the country prepping for its first high-speed railway, but the new bullet train will also travel underwater. The Japan International Cooperation Agency, who is funding the project, revealed that 13 miles of the 315-mile route between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will pass from Thane creek towards Virar, via a submerged corridor.
Traveling at a maximum speed of 217 mph, the whole trip is expected to take about two hours. This is especially exciting considering fastest running train between the two cities right now is the Duronto Express, which takes seven hours.
The project, which is expected to begin by the end of 2018, is similar to the new Japanese bullet train (shinkansen) running from Tokyo to Hakodate, which makes use of the undersea Seikan Tunnel, reports the Japan Times.

India's New Fastest Train To Take Tourists To The Taj Mahal

Photo by David Cogswell

India is heaven for classic train fans. The country’s railways are still an important part of the transportation infrastructure, and many domestic travelers move around the country by train instead of flying. Some tourists try to tap into this locomotive culture by taking special luxury trains like the Maharajas Express. More adventurous tourists ride the rails in second or third class because they think it is the best way to see “the real India.” 

And while the rails are an iconic part of Indian travel, they are hardly a speedy way to get around. With the rise of domestic low-cost airlines, tourists can get to the next place on their itinerary much quicker by flying. 

Speeding up India's highest profile rail route

Some trains in India are about to get faster, however. Though it wouldn’t win a race with the bullet trains in Japan or Europe, the New Delhi Habibganj Shatabdi Express is the current speed king in India. This service, between the capital and the city of Bhopal, reaches a top speed of around 96 miles per hour. A new train, dubbed the Gatimaan Express, will serve the popular tourist route between New Delhi and Agra, where the Taj Mahal is located. In tests, the Gatimaan reached speed just shy of 100 mph. 

These are not as impressive as the train velocities seen elsewhere in the world, obviously. Indian railway spokespeople have been quick to quash dreams of Japan-like bullet trains. Officials have been carefully referring to the Gatimaan as a “semi-high-speed train.” 

The start of a semi-high-speed revolution? 

Even so, this is a major move for India’s railways. The plan is to launch regular service on the new train between Delhi and Agra by March of 2016. If everything goes well, the Gatimaan could expand its route offerings in the future and other semi-high-speed trains could come online. 

Actually, the aforementioned Shatabdi Express already serves the Delhi-Agra route. Before moving on to Bhopal, it stops at the station near the Taj Mahal approximately two hours and six minutes after departing from the capital. Without stops, the Gatimaan completed the trip in one hour and 25 minutes during a recent test run. With stops, it will make the journey in one hour and 45 minutes. 

A cheap, safe way to get around India

Railway officials have already settled on the fares for the trip. A standard seat on the new train will cost 690 rupees, which is about $10.50. First class fares will run about $20.80 (or 1,365 rupees). That is slightly more expensive than the current rates for travel between the capital and Agra on the Shatabdi Express (1,000 rupees for first class and 540 for a standard seat).

The Gatimaan’s planners are being very transparent about safety tests, even saying that they will be putting engineers through rigorous screening and training before they get to take the controls. Derailments and accidents do occasionally occur on Indian railways, but an accident here, on a service aimed at tourists, could be catastrophic for the country’s image as a whole and its train travel industry in particular. 

A rivalry with airlines

Faster trains are needed to compete with the rapidly developing domestic air travel industry. The government has announced that it wants to make air travel more affordable for the masses by setting fare maximums and renovating regional airports. This could put a dent in the railway economy. People would still ride the rails, but those who are willing to spend more for first or second class seats would be able to afford flights instead. This would leave the trains without valuable income. 

Next March, tourists will be able to get to the Taj a little bit earlier in the day, and they will also be able to say that they took a ride on the fastest train in India. 

By  JOSH LEW, www.travelpulse.com