[PraNeel]

Indian Railways is all set to introduce semi high speed self propelled trains called as Train 18 and Train 20. They are called so based upon the year of roll out (2018 and 2020). This will be a first step towards introducing world class high speed trains in our country which will be a complete departure from the existing coach and locomotive model followed by Indian Railways.
One big advantage of a train set as against a locomotive-hauled train is that there are no engine reversal requirements. Train sets also allow for quick acceleration and deceleration, hence reducing the travel duration. According to ICF, train sets allow for better on board utilization of space.

Some salient features:

1. Train 18 will replace the Shatabdi trains and will be the first one to roll out. The first prototype is expected to roll out by June 15 according to Sudhansu Mani, GM ICF.

2. Train 18 design is taken from abroad, however it will be manufactured in India at half the cost of an imported one.


3. The first train set will have 16 chair-car type coaches - executive and non-executive. There will be two executive chair cars and 14 non-executive chair cars. The maximum seating capacity of executive chair cars will be 56 passengers, while those of non executive will be 78.



4. Train 18 will have a stainless steel car body with LHB as the base design. The train set will be tested at speeds of 180 kmph. Unlike conventional trains, Train 18 will have continuous windows.



5. The fully air-conditioned train set will have comfortable seats and will be having swanky features like diffused lighting, on-board WiFi, infotainment screens, GPS-based passenger information system.









6. Train 18 will have automatic doors and sliding footsteps.



7. Train 18 will have automatic interconnecting doors and the connecting areas will be spacious for easy movement.



8. Halogen free rubber-on-rubber flooring, concealed roller blinds for improved aesthetics and better view from the window and continuous energy-efficient LED lighting.





9. Train 18 will boast of zero discharge bio-vaccum toilets. he modular toilets will have aesthetic touch-free bathroom fittings.





10. Train 18 will have driving cabins at both ends of the train. The coaches of the self-propelled train set will be inter connected with fully sealed gangways.



11. Train 18 coaches will also have space to park wheel chairs - a step aimed at making the train sets friendly for disabled passengers.



12. Train 20 is being aimed to roll out in 2020 and it will be imported initially and then it will be manufactured in country. These are expected to replace the Rajdhani Trains.

I don't know if the pictures are taken from abroad, however even if the final product will be 70% closer to these, it will be a very big step for Indian Railways. I sincerely hope there are laws and RPF in place to keep vandals and vandalism in check.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXhe_RfRBxg

[V.Narayan]

Very encouraging. If these come in on routes of less than 400 kms it will be very convenient for business and personal travelers. It is heartening to see the IR moving away from 1960. IR is a great institution run down by a chain of unworthy politicians and revolving door Chairmans. Will watch this thread with interest.

The greatest risk is from our weak civic sense and good manners for looking after public property.

PraNeel I hope you will keep this up dated like you do for the good old LCA Tejas :-)

[Sutripta]

A picture showing position of bogie wrt the coaches would be welcome.

Regards
Sutripta

[desertfox]

Seems much like the Virgin trains in England.

[PraNeel]

One more video which brings out some more details. Good engineering inputs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9dJIkHskbc

[Simhi]

@PraNeel - Thanks for starting this thread.

Originally Posted by PraNeel

Indian Railways is all set to introduce semi high speed self propelled trains called as Train 18 and Train 20.

I have already gone through few videos and articles on the internet but what is still not clear is why we need to import design and initial rakes for Train 20. If I understand correctly, the concept is based on EMU (Electric Multiple Units) run in cities like Mumbai, Chennai. If we can develop Train 18 based on EMU concept, what is different in Train 20?

[PraNeel]

Originally Posted by Simhi

@PraNeel - Thanks for starting this thread.
What is still not clear is why we need to import design and initial rakes for Train 20. If we can develop Train 18 based on EMU concept, what is different in Train 20?

Train 20 will replace the Rajdhani Trains and hence will have sleeper berths, while Train 18 will be a seating only day train meant to replace Shatabdi Trains.
Also, Train 20 will be made from Aluminium, which is uncharted waters for ICF and IR. Hence, to shorten the time to track they might have agreed to import the first set and then manfuacture the rest, similar to GE locomotives.
In the first video the GM of ICF says Train 20 will meet 100% world standards and ICF and IR might want to test out the reliability and longetivity of components before investing in production. More so when the tenders have to be floated and two years is a short period of time to bring the train to track.

[PraNeel]

Train 18 which was set to roll out in June will now roll out in September and plans are to make it commercially active in 2018 only. Very encouraging to see manufacturing in India and impetus on timelines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZNp8iUjjJ4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77GoiVzGVYg