Team-BHP - Vande Bharat Express (Train 18) - Made-In-India Engineless Train

Third rail systems are common on short lines and where intrusions into the right of way are very rare. That would rule this option out for surface travel, not to mention the cost of laying that rail. The though of Diesel-Electric did come to mind, but considering the hotel load of an AC train and the fact that it is vestibuled through, unlikely that there would be a generator van. So overhead catenary is what would be the traction source.

That reminds me, isn't the Mumbai AC local built in ICF, also fully vestibuled? Makes me think, new body shell on the underlying bogie system.

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Originally Posted by mmxylorider (Post 4486247)

That reminds me, isn't the Mumbai AC local built in ICF, also fully vestibuled? Makes me think, new body shell on the underlying bogie system.

No it isn't. It is divided into 2 parts of 6 coaches each which are vestibuled. Normal EMUs have motor coaches at centre of each 3 coach unit, ie 2nd, 5th, 8th and 11th coaches. In the AC EMU they have pushed then to ends of each unit, ie 1st, 6th, 7th, 12th coaches this making 2 segments of 6 coach each vestibuled. Like this:

https://youtu.be/aH8jciYhRT4

The HT compartment is bigger than non AC rakes

India's 'Fastest' Train - 360-Degree Rotating Seats, Sliding Steps
Source

Some of the quoted features

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- A successor to the 30-year-old Shatabdi
- Will cut travel time by 15 per cent as compared to the Shatabdi
- On-board infotainment system with Wi-Fi, vacuum toilets, sliding doors and continuous windows for a contemporary modern look
- CCTV cameras, Diffused lighting, automatic doors and sliding footsteps besides GPS-based Passenger Information System

This is courtesy of Mr Vijay Aravamudhan, member of IRFCA (Indian Railway Fan Club). He posted this information on the IRFCA forum. All thanks to him we have this info.

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Just for information sake - some details regarding the Train18 EMU TrainSet manufactured by ICF:

1. Train Composition:
a. There are 4 units classified as End units and Mid Units.
b. End unit consists of DTC+MC+NDTC+MC
c. Mid Unit consists of NDTC+MC+NDTC+MC

So 8 motor coaches for 16 coach trainset

2. Motor coach rating:
a. 1352HP per motor coach. So that makes 10808 HP for whole train-18 16-coacher trainset.

Oh God !! One hell of an EMU set, this is gonna be.....

b. Pantograph is placed on a NDTC and NOT on MC.
c. Fully suspended Traction motors
d. Starting acceleration - 0.7 m/sec2; Deceleration - 0.8 m/sec2; (compared to range of 0.54 for EMUs)
e. Transformer: 2800KVA
f. Traction Convertor: 550KW
g. Traction Motor (per axle) - 252KW

For more info, read about train 18 on this thread.
https://forum.irfca.org/threads/trai...23#post-437730

To read it, you need to be a member of IRFCA.

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Originally Posted by sgiitk (Post 4485804)

I saw the train. No pantograph in sight. Are we switching to the 'third' rail or something.

Did you see it moving or stationery? I learnt it will be hauled by a loco to its depot and will not use its own power till it is commissioned.

It has normal pantograph. There isn't any infra for third rail except in some metro rail lines like Calcutta and Bangalore.

ICF has to be credited for bringing out such an eye catching railway machinery. They were not much known for aesthetics.

But one thing that still puzzles me is - shouldn't there be extensive trial runs with sand bags and all? More so because there were extensive design changes like underslung traction motors, sealed gangways etc.

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Originally Posted by Lobogris (Post 4484525)

We need better policing. Why don't the authorities value such assets and try to protect them knowing the tendencies of the general public? What is needed is a group of dedicated policemen for each important train.

Whenever I am on a railway platform & I hear this announcement, I simply smile; "Railways is your property, Pls take care of it" I think our fellow Indians take the announcement literally to heart & start considering it as their "OWN" property.
IMHO, It will more sense that Railways, posts warnings for stealing/damaging the items.

Regards-Sonu

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Originally Posted by fordday (Post 4487482)

But one thing that still puzzles me is - shouldn't there be extensive trial runs with sand bags and all? More so because there were extensive design changes like underslung traction motors, sealed gangways etc.

My thinking exactly. How does a few "weeks" of trials be called as such? I'd think there ought to be atleast 12-18 months of trials! Esp given high speed operation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPriyankT (Post 4487448)

This is courtesy of Mr Vijay Aravamudhan, member of IRFCA (Indian Railway Fan Club). He posted this information on the IRFCA forum. All thanks to him we have this info.

For more info, read about train 18 on this thread.
https://forum.irfca.org/threads/trai...23#post-437730

To read it, you need to be a member of IRFCA.

What do DTC and NDTC stand for?

MC is "Motor Coach" I guess.

It is not 'engine-less'. It is a train-set, or an EMU (electric multiple unit). I wish we would talk about achievements such as this, and get more people excited about engineering rather debating night and day over monuments.

@avishar; You are correct. Also, due to the distribution of traction acceleration will be faster (more friction surfaces), and probably they can have more regenerative brakes. I will live to see them. Incidentally, I may add a bit from my own knowledge, the coaches which are invariant (do not more from rake to rake) are the pantry cars!

I'm all for development, but I'd be happier if IR used existing systems well. As of today, the Bangalore-Chennai Shatabdi travels 5 hours at an average speed of 70 km/h. With the existing rolling stock, that trip can be reduced to 3 hours if they maintain 120 km/h or 3 h and 30 m if they maintain an average of 100 km/h.

I think IR should get signaling and tracks built so that trains can run at a faster average speed. No point of using train 18 if we do 150 km/h only for 50 km of the journey.

So a quick answer of the self propelling question. Here is a link to T-18 (beats expanding it every time) at some Chennai station on it's own motive power.

https://youtu.be/0EP9SmAjlYY

Must say - IR pulled it off in terms of a handsome train set.

On a related note, from my friends on IRFCA and some personal info from WR senior staff, the name for this train-set is being debated upon at high levels. Any intelligence around this?