Onboard Vande Bharat Express: Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the country’s first indigenous engine-less semi-high speed train Vande Bharat Express (T 18) from New Delhi railway station on Friday. The train is equipped with GPS passenger information system, CCTV cameras and talk-back facility units to connect with driver in case of an emergency.The train reached PM’s parliamentary constituency late in the evening after making stoppages at Kanpur and Allahabad.The train began its maiden run with railway minister Piyush Goel and a group of railway officials and reporters on board. Goyal said efforts were on to improvise the technology in railway operation and manufacturing of new designed trains.“It (Vande Bharat express) is the first such train manufactured in record 18 months. Tenders have been floated to manufacture 30 more such trains and we will go ahead for 100 more trains of this type in days to come,” said Goyal adding that the railways is hopeful of getting orders from other countries for such trains.Expressing condolence to the kin of soldiers martyred in Pulwama terror attack, Goyal said, “It is India’s strength that it never stops... life didn’t stop even after the Mumbai terror attacks and a befitting reply was given to the destructive forces. Similarly, this train was also inducted in time to serve the nation. It is a strong reply to the terrorists.”The luxury all air-conditioned chair car train is slated to take eight hours to travel from New Delhi to Varanasi via Kanpur and Allahabad. Manufactured at the Integrated Coach Factory, Chennai, the train has 16 coaches with seating capacity of 1,128.Out of 16 coaches, 12 are normal chair-car type with 78 seats, two coaches are executive type with 52 seats and two driving coaches. All the coaches are inter-connected by fully sealed gangways allowing easy movement to passengers from one coach to other.The train has two driving trailer coaches with aerodynamic drivers cab on both ends, which enable quicker turn-around time at destinations. Every alternate coach is motorized to ensure even distribution of motive power and faster acceleration.The train has continuous windows giving a modern and sleek look. It has passenger amenities like on-board wi-fi infotainment, bio-vacuum toilets, diffused LED lighting, charging points beneath every seat, rotating seats in executive class, and so forth.“The brake system is electro pneumatic with brake discs mounted directly on wheel discs, which reduce the braking distance,” said Manoj Tiwari, one of the loco pilots on the inaugural operation of the train. It has been developed with fully suspended traction motors for 160 kmph operational speed, he said adding that presently the train is being operated at 130kmph of maximum speed.It was selfie time with the train for the people assembled at the flag-off function. All along the way people were seen capturing pictures of the train.The train was greeted by curious crowds of people when it reached Kanpur and Allahabad, where functions were also held to celebrate the inaugural run. Everyone wanted to take selfie with the train.

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