Top-notch 'train-18' production underway, rollout soon: ICF

Production of the high-speed 'engine-less' Train-18 embellished with a host of amenities for passengers is underway and its rollout is expected soon, an Integral Coach Factory official said today.

Driven by a self propulsion module sans a separate locomotive, the train, capable of running at a speed of 160 kmph, comes with technical features for enhanced quick acceleration.

With its swanky interiors and exteriors, fibre glass reinforced plastic nose cone, it resembles European semi-high speed trains.

The indigenously built train, with a seating capacity of 1128 passengers in 16 coaches/chair cars, comes with super-comfortable seating, automatic doors, vacuum toilets, space for wheel chairs and disabled friendly restrooms.

In a presentation to the media on the train's production process, ICF Deputy Chief Mechanical Engineer Dileep said the trains come with latest generation bogies for better riding comfort.

It has diffused lighting, automatic doors and footsteps besides GPS-based Passenger Information System.

The footstep in a coach's doorway slides outward when the train stops at a station enabling the passengers to alight safely with comfort in view of the variation in height between a train's floor and the platform.

The train has a wheel mounted brake disc which enables halting the train in a jiffy.

Currently, two "train sets," are scheduled to be produced in the current year (2018-19) and the first unit's roll out is expected by July, the official said.

A train set means an integrated, complete set of individual coaches and in the case of Train-18 it features an assembly of 16 coaches or chair cars.

ICF manufactured 2503 coaches of 68 variants during 2017-18.

During the current year, ICF is planning to manufacture 3299 coaches of 74 variants varying from Meter Guage Niligiri Mountain Rail to Kolkata Metro.

The making of Antyodaya, Tejas, EMUs and Train sets as well makes ICF a "versatile coach builder," the official said.

As regards the proposed Train-20, it is being conceived with aluminium car body with 20 cars, sleeper coaches and its production is on the cards, he said.

The first train set is expected to be out by 2020, the official added.