New Delhi. A new golden chapter of modernity, speed and indigenous technology has been added in the history of Indian Railways. While on one hand the construction work of Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed bullet train corridor is progressing rapidly in the country, on the other hand, Indian Railways' indigenous semi-high speed Vande Bharat Express, already running on the tracks, has surprised everyone by crossing the milestone of maximum speed of 180 kilometers per hour (180 kmph) during the trials. The train demonstrated excellent stability, minimal vibration and world-class safety standards even at a speed of 180 km/hr in the trials conducted by the Research Designs and Standards Organization (RDSO) and technical teams of the Railways. This historic achievement has made it clear that the country's general broad-gauge network is now fully capable of operating global level high-speed trains. Vande Bharat is now directly challenging the supremacy of the country's most prestigious trains—Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express, completely changing the landscape of intercity and long distance travel. Secret of 180 km/hr speed: Distributed power and bullet train-like aerodynamic design Traditional Rajdhani or Shatabdi Express trains have a heavy locomotive (engine) installed at the front, which pulls the entire train of coaches. Due to this arrangement, the train takes a long time to reach its maximum speed (acceleration) and stop (deceleration). In contrast, Vande Bharat Express works on 'self-propelled' or distributed power technology (Distributed Power EMU Technology). Key Benefits of this technology: Rocket-like acceleration: Vande Bharat is capable of accelerating from zero to 100 km/h in just 52 seconds, which is comparable to many bullet trains and high-speed sports cars. Rajdhani Express takes about two to three times the time to reach the same speed. Aerodynamic Nose Cone: The front part of the train is streamlined and aerodynamic like a bullet train, which significantly reduces air drag and allows the train to easily reach speeds of up to 180 km/hr with low power consumption. Advanced Regenerative Braking: Energy is not wasted when braking, but the electricity is fed back into the grid, allowing the train to save approximately 30% energy. Even a glass full of water did not spill: A new benchmark in stability and passenger comfort When the train touched the 180 km/hr speed mark, the 'glass of water' test conducted inside the cabin attracted the attention of the entire world. Even while running at full speed, not a single drop of water spilled out of the water glass kept on the table. This is a direct testimony to its advanced semi-active bogie suspension and superior ride index. Modern facilities being provided to the passengers in comparison to Rajdhani and Shatabdi: KAVASCH Safety: The train is equipped with a completely indigenous automatic train safety system 'KAVASCH', which automatically stops two trains coming head-on on the same track by applying brakes in case of human error. 180-degree revolving seats in Executive Class: The seats in the Executive Chair Car rotate in the direction of train movement, which is not available in Rajdhani or Shatabdi. Airplane-like cabin and bio-vacuum toilets: The train has fully sealed gangways, odor-free bio-vacuum toilets, touch-free sensors and CCTV cameras, passenger information system and Wi-Fi infotainment screens in every coach. Upgradation of Railway Track from 160 to 180 km/hr Train may be capable of running at 180 km/hr, but in regular commercial operations it is run between 130 to 160 km/hr. To overcome the existing limitation of tracks, Railway Board has launched a mega campaign of track upgradation under Mission 160+: Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah routes: These two busiest Golden Quadrilateral routes are being prepared for the speed of 160 km/hr. For this, strong fencing is being done on both sides of the track so that cattle or people cannot come on the track. Automatic signaling and thick-web switches: Old junction points on the tracks are being replaced by modern thick-web switches, so that trains can easily pass through turns without reducing speed. This rapid expansion of Vande Bharat and continuously improving speed records has taken Indian Railways to the point of self-reliance, where in the coming years, every corner of the country is going to be connected with high-speed, secure and comfortable connectivity.
