India to trial indigenously developed engineless train

India is set to test Train 18 (T18), its first indigenously developed engineless train.

The trial is expected to run for three to four days outside the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, India. ICF manufactured the energy-efficient, self-propelled train in 18 months.

According to a Press Trust of India (PTI) report, ICF general manager Sudhanshu Mani stated that T18 will be delivered to India’s Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) for further trials once the latest test is completed.

Manufactured as part of the Make in India project, the train was developed with an investment of Rs1bn ($14m). T18 is designed to replace the country’s 30-year-old Shatabdi Express.

The fully air-conditioned train will be equipped with 16 coach prototypes and able to transport 1,128 passengers.

It will also include closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras for passenger safety, as well as automatic doors with retractable footsteps, onboard Wi-Fi and infotainment units, GPS-based passenger information system and diffused lighting.

T18 is also equipped with two executive compartments with 52 seats each, as well as several trailer coaches with 78 seats each.

With the ability to travel up to 160km/h, the train is expected to reduce the travel time by around 15%.

The train is nearly 15%-20% energy-efficient and likely to travel between Indian cities of Delhi and Bhopal.