Details of the Vande Bharat Express Trains:

#GS III #Infrastructure related issues

The two significant semi-high-speed trainset tenders that benefited the Vande Bharat project made significant progress this week.
It is predicted that five competitors will fulfil the requirements for producing 200 trainsets on Wednesday, almost a week after two major firms submitted their technical bids for 100 aluminium Vande Bharats—a first in India—in a tender that was published a few months ago. Three businesses have submitted bids for the 200 trainsets: the Swiss firm Stadler, the Indian firm Medha, and the world leader in rolling stock from France, Alstom.

This semi-high-speed, self-propelled train has been heralded as the Indian Railways’ next big development in terms of speed and passenger convenience since the introduction of Rajdhani trains.
The first Vande Bharat was produced for about Rs. 100 crore as part of the “Made in India” programme at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.
The Vande Bharat was India’s first attempt to replace the more conventional practise of using passenger carriages pulled by individual locomotives.
The train set arrangement is intricate, but it is also quicker, easier to repair, consumes less energy, and allows for more flexibility in train operation.
Two Vande Bharat Expresses are currently leaving New Delhi, one for Katra and the other for Varanasi.
The 400 new trains will be constructed with “better efficiency” in mind, and some of these trainsets may be made of aluminium rather than steel.
Because of its aluminium body, each trainset will be 40–80 tonnes lighter than a modern Vande Bharat, increasing its potential for speed and consuming less energy.

These trains, known as “Train 18,” lack a locomotive and run on a distributed traction power system that provides separate power sources to each of the train’s carriages.
The onboard WiFi, GPS-based passenger information systems, CCTVs, automated doors in every coach, rotating chairs, and bio-vacuum toilets like to those in aeroplanes are just a few of the luxuries provided to passengers in its coaches.
It can drive at a top speed of 160 kmph thanks to speedier acceleration and deceleration, which reduces the journey time by 25% to 45%.
Additionally, it boasts a smart braking system that regenerates electricity, lowering costs, energy consumption, and environmental impact.

Over the next three years, 10,000–15,000 employment will be created as a result of the production of 400 of these trainset attachments.
Around Rs 50,000 crore would be invested in the country’s rolling stock industry, which would be great for supply and component manufacturing companies among others.
Also, it will increase the railroad’s finances and productivity.

A new era of travel is introduced by Indian Railways’ upgraded next-generation trains. In an era of heavy competition from low-cost airlines and well-developed road systems, the new trains can aid railways in maintaining and possibly growing their business.
The early completion of the ambitious project and consideration of the requirement for diverse classes of travel will significantly increase the success of the Vande Bharat project.

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