Indian Railways Train-18: 5 power points about India's first engine-less train

Indian Railways Train 18 is almost ready and may be rolled out by the end of the month. This is the country's first engine-less train and is being regarded as a successor to the 30-year-old Shatabdi Express. It is likely to hit the tracks for trials on October 29. Driven by a self-propulsion module sans a separate locomotive as well as attached wagons (like metro coaches), the train, which is capable of running at a speed of up to 160 kmph, comes with top technical features for enhanced quick acceleration.

Here are 5 power points that you should know about this Train-18
1. The swanky 16-coach prototype without a locomotive (engine) will cut travel time by 15 per cent compared to the Shatabdi. The footstep in a coach's doorway slides outward when the train stops at a station enabling passengers to alight safely with comfort in view of the variation in height between a train's floor and the platform.

2. Indian Railways Train-18 was developed by the city-based Integral Coach Factory in 18 months. This is a full AC train and is designed in such a way that passengers at the back can even have a look at the driver's cabin.

3. It cost nearly Rs 100 crore to build the prototype and subsequent production would bring down the cost. Train 18 has diffused lighting, automatic doors and footsteps besides GPS-based Passenger Information System.

4. The self-propelled Indian Railways Train-18 is fitted with CCTV cameras, would have two executive compartments in the middle with 52 seats each, whereas trailer coaches would have 78 seats each.
5. It has a potential to travel up to the speed at 160 kmph as against 130 kmph of Shatabdi and would result in the travel time being reduced by around 15 per cent once the tracks are fit to suit Train 18's speed.