Fastest Train In India

The Vande Bharat can reach speeds of more than 200 kmph but it runs much slower than that

India’s proposed bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is still some time away. But, Vande Bharat Express, a new-generation semi-high speed intercity train, continues its title for being the fastest train in India. Also known as Train 18, Vande Bharat Express made its debut on 15th February 2019 and is currently operable on two different routes – New Delhi to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and New Delhi to Varanasi.

Designed and manufactured by Integral Coach Factory (ICF) at Perambur, Chennai, the Vande Bharat Express is one of the finest examples of the Make in India initiative. The train took 18 months for the complete design and manufacturing process, with an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore. Vande Bharat Express recently came into the news once again, when the Central Government announced 400 new Vande Bharat Express trains in the span of the next three years.

However, there’s more to know about this state-of-the-art train, which is an engineering marvel of new-generation India. Following are informative details about the Vande Bharat Express, which you should know about.

History

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After bringing the Gatiman Express in 2016, Indian Railways decided to make an even faster high-speed rail. The Indian Railways floated a tender in June 2015, which did not find a single viable bid. Citing the same, Indian Railways decided to make it entirely in India. Indian Railways announced two new trains. It got the name of ‘Train-2018’ initially, as 2018 was the deadline for the project completion.

The manufacturing of these two trains began in the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) at Perambur, Chennai, which continued till October 2018. Since the manufacturing process took exactly 18 months for completion, the trains received a new name – ‘Train18’.

Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Vande Bharat Express in 2019

On 15th February 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the train with the-then railway minister Piyush Goyal. The inaugural journey was between New Delhi and Varanasi, which continues to be one of the two routes on which the train is operating right now. The train was soon renamed ‘Vande Bharat Express’ by Goyal.

Design

The Train-18 or Vande Bharat Express can reach a top-speed of 200 km/h

Unlike the old-generation trains plying on the Indian rail tracks, Vande Bharat Express boasts of an aerodynamic design with an angular front end to cope with air resistance at triple-digit speeds. For a faster turnaround at terminating stations like Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai and Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MG Ramachandran Central Railway Station in Chennai, Vande Bharat Express has driver cabins at both ends. The entire train gets a dual-tone paint theme of white with blue accents.

Currently, Indian Railways outsources the doors, seats, transformers and braking systems of the train. The manufacturing of the rest of the train components happens at Integral Coach Factory (ICF) at Perambur, Chennai. The currently outsourced aspects of the train will see local manufacturing in the later stages.

Features

It gets rotating seats

All the 16 passenger cars of the Vande Bharat Express come equipped with facilities like bio-vacuum toilets and a GPS-based passenger information system. In addition to these features, the first-class compartments in the middle also get rotating seats, which can revolve to face the direction of the train’s movement.

The train also features a regenerative braking system for efficient energy use, which saves around 30 per cent of electricity compared to the old-gen Shatabdi Express. Other features which give a premium travelling ambience include automatic doors, smoke alarms, CCTV cameras, odour-control system, sensor-based water taps, roller blinds, footrest, seat pockets and bottle holders.

Even the staff wears a different uniform

The upgraded version of the Vande Bharat Express, which will roll as a part of the 400 additional trains announced in the 2022 Union Budget, will include more amenities. The new features will be primarily for safety and security. The coaches in all these trains will have four emergency windows, fire survival cables within the door circuits, emergency disaster lights, provision of ventilation for three hours during AC power failure situations and an increase in the number of emergency push buttons to four in number.

In addition to these new safety and security features, the next lot of Vande Bharat Express will also feature a centralized coach monitoring system for electricity and climate control and a bacteria-free air conditioning system. The seats will come equipped with a new push-back seating arrangement for a smoother reclining experience. For better functioning during monsoons, the trains will also have revised underframe equipment, which will help in higher flood protection.

Technical Specifications

But it runs much slower than that (SWIPE UP TO KNOW WHY)

The Vande Bharat Express is specifically a broad-gauge train, which can operate on tracks measuring 1,676mm (5 feet 6 inches) in width. The train is operable on a 25 kV 50 Hz AC 1-phase electricity supply.

Number of cars

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वन्दे भारत एक्सप्रेस अपनी पूरी रफ्तार में धूल उड़ाते हुए निकली। Vande Bharat Expres With Full Speed by Shubham Railways

Currently, Vande Bharat Express has 16 passenger cars having a total seating capacity of 1,128 people. Except for the two first-class compartments in the centre, which can seat 52 people each, the rest of the fourteen compartments have a capacity of 78 people each.

Speeds

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VANDE BHARAT EXPRESS Locopilot Cabin Inside View, 180 kmph Run |2022 by IRF Clicks

With a claimed maximum speed of 200 kmph, the Vande Bharat Express is officially the fastest train in India. During the trial runs, which happened multiple times in Chennai and on the tracks between Kota and Sawai Madhopur, the train achieved a speed of 180 kmph. However, given that the current railway tracks at most places are not capable of supporting such high speed, the operating speed of the Vande Bharat Express was capped at 130 kmph. Some officials even claim that the train has the potential of running at 220 kmph.

Top 10 fastest trains in India

Before the arrival of Vande Bharat Express in India, the country got a lot of high-speed trains in past. Here’s a complete list of the ten fastest trains which have served in the history of India to date:

Q&A

Which is the fastest train in India?
Vande Bharat Express is the fastest train in India.

What is the fastest train in India?
Train 18 or the Vande Bharat Express is the fastest train in India.

Is Vande Bharat Express a bullet train?
No, the Vande Bharat Express is not a bullet train.

Which fastest Gatimaan or Vande Bharat?
Vande Bharat Express is the fastest train in India and the Gatiman Express is the second-fastest.

Keyword: Fastest Train In India