Indian Railways eyes world-class passenger travel! Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says ‘these 4 trains will change…’
At the unveiling of the train, which is being manufactured by BEML, Vaishnaw mentioned that Indian Railways is working on four new trains that will ‘change the way people travel in India’.These are: Vande Bharat chair car, Vande Bharat Sleeper, Vande Metro and Amrit Bharat trains. “These projects reflect the aspirational India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.
We take a look at some salient features and interesting facts about these new Indian Railways trains:
Vande Bharat Sleeper:
According to Indian Railways, Vande Bharat sleeper trains are set to revolutionize long-distance overnight travel in India. The new train, built on the Vande Bharat platform, will offer passengers a superior alternative to the current Rajdhani Express trains.
Vande Bharat sleeper trains will offer world-class passenger comforts, jerk-free rides and a faster travel option with the train set boasting of better acceleration and deceleration. The self-propelled train will be capable of reaching speeds up to 160 kmph, ensuring a smooth and efficient journey for its passengers.
The trains will have state-of-the-art interiors, including GFRP panels, automated external passenger doors, and sensor-operated inter communication doors. These trains will also boast modern passenger amenities, ample luggage space, modular pantries, public announcement and visual information systems, internal display panels, security cameras, and hot water showers in the AC 1st class coach.
Passengers can expect enhanced comfort in the berths of the Vande Bharat sleeper trains compared to the Rajdhani Express trains. The berths will be equipped with additional cushioning for increased comfort, and the ladder used to access the upper berths has been redesigned to provide a more pleasant experience.
Amrit Bharat Express:
Indian Railways has introduced a new class of trains called the Amrit Bharat Express, designed to meet the needs of the common man. These push-pull trains feature a locomotive at each end and currently consist of second class sleeper and general class unreserved coaches.
The Amrit Bharat Express features a WAP5 locomotive at each end of the train, each boasting 6,000 HP. These locomotives are designed with an aerodynamic profile similar to that of the Vande Bharat trains. Together, the two locomotives facilitate a push-pull operation, enhancing the train’s efficiency and performance and allowing for a speed of up to 130 kmph.
The Amrit Bharat Express offers a range of passenger comforts similar to those found in the Vande Bharat Express, including sealed gangways, jerk free rides, better toilets, cushioned seats, mobile charging points and much more.
Indian Railways plans to expand the Amrit Bharat fleet by manufacturing more trains, which are expected to include air-conditioned coaches in addition to the existing classes.
Vande Metro:
Taking inspiration from the Vande Bharat trains, Vande Metro is a self-propelled train set which will provide passengers with a faster, air-conditioned travel option for short distance inter-city travel.
The train will have the capability to reach speeds of up to 130 kmph. Each coach of the Vande Metro will accommodate 100 seated passengers and have the capacity for an additional 200 standing passengers.
Vande Metro trains will have a comprehensive array of features to enhance passenger comfort and safety. These include CCTV and cameras for security, a PIS system with LCD displays for real-time information, and modular toilets with vacuum evacuation systems for improved hygiene. The trains will feature an aerodynamically designed driving end and fully sealed gangways to ensure smoother operation. Passengers will enjoy lightweight cushioned seats with a contemporary design, diffused lighting for a pleasant ambiance, and wider panoramic sealed windows with roller blinds for optimal views. Additional amenities include route indicator displays, an emergency Talk Back Unit, mobile charging sockets, and the KAVACH train anti-collision system, among others.
The first two prototypes of Vande Metro have been manufactured by RCF Kapurthala and ICF Chennai and will be launched soon after extensive trials.
Vande Bharat Express:
Launched in 2019, Vande Bharat Express trains have become the face of changing passenger travel experience on the Indian Railways network. These self-propelled trainsets were introduced with an aim to offer world-class travel experience to passengers.
The semi-high speed train can attain speeds of 160 kmph and the distributed power allows for faster acceleration and deceleration, hence reducing the average travel time.
The all-AC chair car train has several aircraft-style features such as personalised reading lights, European style seats, bio-vacuum toilets, LED lighting, wide luggage racks, passenger information screens, panoramic windows, fully sealed gangways for dust-free environment, automatic interconnecting doors, driver-controlled entry/exit doors.