Train18 ready for launch: Railway officials

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 24

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the Indian Railways’s ambitious Train18 in a week, as the train sets have got their final clearance from the Electrical Inspector to the Government (EIG) following three days of rigorous inspection. 

The development comes a month after its final trial run was completed a month ago.  

Sources in the Rail Bhawan said the train was sent for EIG inspection on Monday after the Railway Board gave its approval despite objections from its rolling stock department, which designed and manufactured India’s fastest state-of-the-art train.

The Rolling Stock department has argued that there was no legal or administrative precedent to send the train for EIG inspection, as it already has received certification from Research Design and Standards Organisation, sources said.

Sources, however, indicated that now the EIG inspection report will be sent to the Railway Board, which in turn will take the final call on officially launching the train, which may take a week. 

The 16-coach train, built in 18 months at a cost of Rs 97 crore, is regarded as a successor to the 30-year-old Shatabdi Express. It is also the first locomotive-less train in the country.