(Image source from: news18.com)
Vande Bharat Express, the new improved ‘Make in India’ trains are all set to get upgraded features. Piyush Goyal -led Railway Ministry has said 44 more Vande Bharat Express trains will be produced in order to transform the passenger experience on the Indian Railway network.
The Vande Bharat express trains that were introduced earlier this year are engine-less self-propelled train sets. As specified by RDSO, the 44 new train sets will be having more advanced features.
Tender has been supplied by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai for the supply of electrical equipment and other items being sufficient for as many as 44 Vande Bharat Express train sets with each consisting of 16 coaches.
All the coaches will be equipped with automatic plug doors with retractable footsteps, an intercommunication door which is automatic, speakers, side destination boards, mobile and laptop charging sockets in the seats of passengers, CCTV cameras, emergency talk back units along with networking system.
The new features in the upcoming 44 Vande Bharat Express will be diffused lightning for luggage racks, modular equipped mini pantry, continuous LED lights and GPS antenna.
The 5 special features in the new Vande Bharat Express trains:
1. Light weight and energy efficient trainsets. A ride index less than 3.5 will be supported rather than the earlier value of less than 4 which will improve the comfort experienced by the passenger even for long train journeys and they will also be suitable for operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
2. The trainset can reach the top speed of 160km per hour in maximum of 140 seconds as the residual acceleration value will be 0.1ms2 in the upcoming trainsets which in turn helps is saving 20% journey time.
3. The improved fire safety as per EN 45545 HL2 will be present in the interior and also improved electrical protection.
4. Light weight, explosion-proof lithium-iron-phosphate batteries will be equipped in order to provide back for up to three hours duration
The upcoming trains will have basic units with four coaches which can be attached or detached as per the need which will make it possible in replacing the basic units in case of defects.
By Shrithika Kushangi
