Everything about New Vande Bharat trains
The third Vande Bharat Express train is expected to arrive in India before August 15, more than three years after the first rake began service between Delhi and Varanasi. The newly improved Vande Bharat Express is a prototype rake with a number of new enhancements. The train will be extensively tested by RDSO before it is cleared for commercial operation later this year.
New Vande Bharat train: Features
- In comparison to the first two Vande Bharat trains, the new train will have aircraft-style seats that provide better sitting and reclining comfort.
- The new Vande Bharat will take 140 seconds to reach a speed of 160 kmph, down from 145 seconds previously. At 160 km/h, the residual acceleration will be 0.1 m/s as opposed to 0.05 m/s.
- Four emergency windows have been installed in each coach to facilitate passenger evacuation in the event of an untoward incident.
- The provision of the indigenous system Kavach will be a significant safety addition to the new Vande Bharat trains. This is an automated train protection system designed to prevent train collisions. Kavach is designed to protect trains by preventing them from passing through the Danger (Red) signal and colliding. It automatically engages the train braking system.
- The train’s underslung electrical equipment will be better floodproofed. The new Vande Bharat will be able to withstand floods up to 650 mm in height, up from 400 mm previously.
- Higher efficiency compressors with UV lamps to ensure germ-free air supply will provide better heat ventilation and air-conditioning control.
- Every coach will have a 32-inch passenger information and entertainment system, up from 24 inches on previous trains.
- The train’s formation will also change, with the non-driving trailer coach in the middle. This will function similarly to an EMU in terms of acceleration and deceleration.
- Better Coach Control Management System will be used for air-conditioning monitoring, communication, and feedback to control centre/maintenance staff via GSM/GPRS.
- The new Vande Bharat coaches will have Level-Il safety integration certification for improved train control management.
- Instead of two, the new Vande Bharat will have four platform-side cameras, including rearview cameras outside the coach.
- In all coaches, a fire detection system based on an aerosol fire suppression system will be used in place of the earlier coaches’ smoke detection system. This will improve the train’s fire safety.
- Two signal exchange lights have been installed on the coaches to allow for signal exchange with wayside stations. As opposed to the traction motor, there will be a separate ventilation duct on the sidewall.
- The driver-guard communication system will include voice recording capabilities. There will also be Class 3 and 4 surge arrestors for electrical safety, as opposed to the previous Class 2 and 3 surge arrestors.
- Each coach will have four emergency lights to power lights if all electricity connections fail. According to railways, earlier trains did not have emergency lights. The self-propelled Vande Bharat train set will have a three-hour battery backup, up from one hour previously.
In his Independence Day speech last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced 75 Vande Bharat trains by 2023. The new trains will be available in both chair car and sleeper configurations, effectively making them an upgraded version of the premium Rajdhani Express trains. Liked this post? Don’t forget to check out our other short stories in our Quick Read section.