India’s first engine-less train set to hit tracks

Mains Paper 3: Economy | Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc.

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

Prelims level: Everything about Train 18

Mains level: Modernization of Railways

Context

Train 18, India’s first engine-less train for inter-city travel is set to hit the tracks very soon.

Train 18

Train 18 is a flagship train set; the first prototype has been built by the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, in a record time of 20 months.
It will be modified for subsequent production based on the feedback from RDSO (Research Designs and Standards Organisation).
The train is a 100% ‘Make in India’ project and is claimed to be built at half the cost of a similar train set that is imported,

Notable features of the T-18

T-18 is a self-propelled engine-less train (similar to the Metro trains) and is energy-efficient as its coaches will be fitted with LED lights.
Coaches will have automatic doors and retractable footsteps,
It will be inter-connected with fully sealed gangways along with a GPS-based Passenger Information System.
It is provided with of Bio toilets.
The full AC train is equipped to run at a speed of up to 160 kmph as against Shatabdi’s 130 kmph which will cut down travel time by 15 per cent.