India's first engine-less train?
VerifiedAnswer: Vande Bharat Express
Explanation:
The Vande Bharat Express holds the distinction of being India's first engine-less train, marking a revolutionary step in the country's railway modernization. This semi-high speed train represents a significant departure from traditional locomotive-hauled trains that have dominated Indian Railways for decades.
The train operates on a distributed traction system, which means the power is distributed across multiple coaches rather than being concentrated in a single locomotive. This design allows for better acceleration, smoother rides, and improved energy efficiency compared to conventional trains.
The inaugural Vande Bharat Express was flagged off on February 15, 2019, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, connecting New Delhi to Varanasi. This train can reach a maximum speed of 180 km/h and has an operational speed of 160 km/h, significantly reducing travel time between major cities.
Key features of the Vande Bharat Express include modern amenities such as automatic doors, GPS-based passenger information systems, onboard WiFi, bio-vacuum toilets, LED lighting, and rotating seats in executive class. The train is also equipped with regenerative braking technology and is designed to be more environmentally friendly than traditional trains.
The success of the Vande Bharat Express has led to the expansion of this service to multiple routes across India, establishing it as a flagship project under the government's Make in India initiative and demonstrating the country's growing capabilities in manufacturing world-class railway equipment.
