Vande Bharat Express is India's first world-class, semi-high, engine-less train completely conceptualized, designed, developed, manufactured, & tested in India!
Came across some cool facts about the train and the person behind it
A thread on the same –
Do RT for wider reach :)
Came across some cool facts about the train and the person behind it
A thread on the same –
Do RT for wider reach :)
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Vande Bharat Express a.k.a Train 18, is a semi-high-speed intercity electric multiple-unit train in India
The 1st model of the Vande Bharat train was completed in 18 months and hence the Indian Railways named it Train 18
The year of completion was also 2018 interestingly
Vande Bharat Express a.k.a Train 18, is a semi-high-speed intercity electric multiple-unit train in India
The 1st model of the Vande Bharat train was completed in 18 months and hence the Indian Railways named it Train 18
The year of completion was also 2018 interestingly
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The Project -
- Initiated by the Indian government in 2017 and was executed by Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai
- Completely conceptualized, designed, developed, manufactured, and tested in India
- Record for the fastest train in India(up to 160 km/hour)
The Project -
- Initiated by the Indian government in 2017 and was executed by Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai
- Completely conceptualized, designed, developed, manufactured, and tested in India
- Record for the fastest train in India(up to 160 km/hour)
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- The Vande Bharat Express runs between Delhi and Varanasi, and the train covers a distance of 800 kilometers in just 8 hours which is a significant improvement over the current Shatabdi Express, which takes ~11 hours
- The Vande Bharat Express runs between Delhi and Varanasi, and the train covers a distance of 800 kilometers in just 8 hours which is a significant improvement over the current Shatabdi Express, which takes ~11 hours
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What makes Vande Bharat train different from other trains?
- It is an engineless train, a first in India. This allows for faster acceleration and deceleration.
- Several modern features - automatic doors, GPS-based passenger information system, and bio-vacuum toilets
What makes Vande Bharat train different from other trains?
- It is an engineless train, a first in India. This allows for faster acceleration and deceleration.
- Several modern features - automatic doors, GPS-based passenger information system, and bio-vacuum toilets
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- A feat that was not even thought of in the past 150 years. It climbed the steepest railway track inclines in the country at Khandala and Igatpuri on their own, without any support
- The newest locomotives have the indigenous tech Kavach that protects trains from accidents
- A feat that was not even thought of in the past 150 years. It climbed the steepest railway track inclines in the country at Khandala and Igatpuri on their own, without any support
- The newest locomotives have the indigenous tech Kavach that protects trains from accidents
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The Man behind the project –
- It was early winter of 2016, when Sudhanshu Mani, left with 25 months of service in the Indian Railways, decided to give shape to an idea that he had dreamt of for decades
- He was then general manager at Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory
The Man behind the project –
- It was early winter of 2016, when Sudhanshu Mani, left with 25 months of service in the Indian Railways, decided to give shape to an idea that he had dreamt of for decades
- He was then general manager at Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory
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- He is a mechanical engineer by profession and has worked with the Indian Railways for 35+ Yrs
- He is known for his expertise in designing & building rail coaches
- Under his direction, the ICF conceptualized, constructed, and developed a 16-coach train set in 2018
- He is a mechanical engineer by profession and has worked with the Indian Railways for 35+ Yrs
- He is known for his expertise in designing & building rail coaches
- Under his direction, the ICF conceptualized, constructed, and developed a 16-coach train set in 2018
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- The Set was intended for a test speed of 180 km/h and an operating speed of 160 km/h
- Compared to the industry avg of 3-4 yrs, this project was finished in just about 18 months
- The Set was intended for a test speed of 180 km/h and an operating speed of 160 km/h
- Compared to the industry avg of 3-4 yrs, this project was finished in just about 18 months
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- What made the project really valuable is that it was executed without any Transfer of Technology (ToT) from a global train manufacturer with the IPR proudly owned by ICF
- What made the project really valuable is that it was executed without any Transfer of Technology (ToT) from a global train manufacturer with the IPR proudly owned by ICF
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- The train cost Rs 97-100 cr, 1/3rd of what it would have cost to import one, from the drawing board to its finished physical form moving down a track
Truly a Cost conscious project!
- The train cost Rs 97-100 cr, 1/3rd of what it would have cost to import one, from the drawing board to its finished physical form moving down a track
Truly a Cost conscious project!
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About Indian Coach Factory -
- The public sector rail coach manufacturing unit in Chennai
- It bagged the Limca world record for crossing the milestone of 50,000 coaches production on July 2015.
- One more achievement - 3000 coach units in just 215 days (2019-20)
About Indian Coach Factory -
- The public sector rail coach manufacturing unit in Chennai
- It bagged the Limca world record for crossing the milestone of 50,000 coaches production on July 2015.
- One more achievement - 3000 coach units in just 215 days (2019-20)
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- It became the 1st coach manufacturer in the world to achieve it
- It has also become the only carbon-negative company of Indian Railways
Neighboring countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal have also expressed interest in Train 18!
- It became the 1st coach manufacturer in the world to achieve it
- It has also become the only carbon-negative company of Indian Railways
Neighboring countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal have also expressed interest in Train 18!
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Way ahead?
- In the latest Union Budget, the FM had proposed the development of 400 new Vande Bharat trains over the next 3 years (tenders are also there for some 100 sets)
- 27 routes identified of Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi trains to be replaced by Vande Bharat trains
Way ahead?
- In the latest Union Budget, the FM had proposed the development of 400 new Vande Bharat trains over the next 3 years (tenders are also there for some 100 sets)
- 27 routes identified of Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi trains to be replaced by Vande Bharat trains
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Conclusion - It is a technological marvel and a significant milestone in the history of Indian Railways providing a boost to the Make in India initiative
Indian Railways is undergoing a transformation - The Stations and the trains - Hoping that the momentum continues :)
Conclusion - It is a technological marvel and a significant milestone in the history of Indian Railways providing a boost to the Make in India initiative
Indian Railways is undergoing a transformation - The Stations and the trains - Hoping that the momentum continues :)
Ordered the Train 18 Founder's book also -
A person who contributed so much to changing the face of Indian Railways deserves our time :)
A person who contributed so much to changing the face of Indian Railways deserves our time :)
@ManiSudhanshu58 Sir
Thanks for your contribution to the Indian Railways :)
Thanks for your contribution to the Indian Railways :)
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