Photo Credit: PTI Train 18

New Delhi: Cheer for railway passengers, wait for second Train 18 is almost over! The second self-propelled semi-high speed Train 18 is likely to be rolled out next month. It is expected to have more 'Made in India' components and the new Train 18 will be improved for enhanced passengers comfort. Railways is all set to roll out the second rake of the Vande-Bharat Express in the first week of May.

It may be noted that the semi high-speed self-propelled train which is manufactured by Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, is the first made-in-India self-propelled train. The first rake of the train was manufactured in just 18 months. Indian Railways had postponed the launch of the second rake due to general elections.

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A recent FEOnline report cited an ICF official saying that the second rake of the Vande Bharat Express will be launched next month. The official was quoted in the report saying, "The first rake of Train 18 or Vande Bharat Express was a prototype. Based on the feedback from it, we are making modifications in the second rake." He further mentioned that the timeline of the second rake rollout is the first week of May.

The financial daily report also added that the coach factory will roll out three more Train 18 rakes in this financial year as opposed to the initial target of 10 rakes. Sources quoted in the report said, "Optimistically speaking, the third rake will be ready by October, the fourth by December and one more in February 2020."

The new rake will reportedly have a special frame in windows to ensure that the glass is shatter-proof. The new train will also have several other improvements like the lower portion of seats that will push out by five inches compared three right now, providing more comfort to travellers.

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Worth mentioning here is that Vande Bharat Express was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February this year from New Delhi. The second set of trains was expected to be operational in April. However, the launch was postponed after Lok Sabha poll notifications. The train currently covers a distance of 769 kilometres from New Delhi Railway Station to Varanasi Junction in about eight hours at a speed of 130 Kmph.