The Centre on Friday has revealed the first look of the Rapid Transit System (RRTS) train. It is modelled on the Delhi's iconic Lotus Temple and can get to a top speed o180 kilometres per hour.
The project has been undertaken under Narendra Modi's ‘Make in India’ initiative and will run on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor.
The RRTS will be manufactured at Bombardier’s Savli plant in Gujarat and it is a sustainable and energy-efficient green train. These aerodynamic RRTS trains will be lightweight and fully air-conditioned.
"The environment-friendly, energy-efficient trains will improve the quality of life in and around NCR by accelerating economic growth, creating economic opportunities and at the same time reducing air pollution, carbon footprint, congestion, and accidents." Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra said.
The prototype is scheduled to roll off the production line in 2022. Only after extensive trials will the train be ready for public use. NCRTC will procure 30 train sets of six cars each for operating regional rail services on the entire corridor and ten train sets of three cars each for operating local transit services in Meerut.
Important features of the train:
- Equipped with a public announcement and display system, dynamic route map display, an infotainment display, along with emergency communication facilities. The train is designed for modern visual and audio announcements which orient passenger with information about the next stop, final destination, etc.
- Double glazed, tempered large safety glass windows that offer passengers a panoramic view of the outside
- CCTV, fire & smoke detector, fire extinguisher and door indicator.
- A food automatic vending machine will be installed in the business coach.
- One coach in every train will be reserved for women passengers as well.
- Innovative Train Control Monitoring System (TCMS) technology, as well as its predictive and condition-based monitoring features, which will enhance the fleet’s performance by providing extensive train-to-ground diagnostics.
- Universally accessible- Dedicated wheelchair space located near to the train doorway for easy access.
- Automatic plug-in type wide doors reducing air-friction and noise.
- These modern trains will have push buttons for the selective opening of doors on need basis. This eliminates the requirement of opening all doors at every station, thus leading to energy saving.
- Proven lightweight and compact propulsion system with high reliability and performance requirements.
- Designed keeping in mind high-acceleration and high-deceleration that the train needs to undergo given the maximum operational speed of 160kmph and stations at every 5-10km.
- Trains would run under Automatic Train Operation (ATO) to provide a smooth ride with precise stopping accuracy and will also save energy.
- RRTS trains will also have business class (one coach per train) with spacious, comfortable and reclining seats which will be accessible through a special lounge at the platform-level.
- Given the high-speed train operations, all RRTS stations will have Platform Screen Doors (PSDs) for the safety of the passengers. The train doors will be integrated with PSDs.
