Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated two Amrit Bharat Expresses at Ayodhya on December 30, 2023. One Amrit Bharat train will run on the route from Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh to Darbhanga in Bihar, while the other will travel between Malda in West Bengal and Bengaluru in Karnataka. The train, which will run at a speed of up to 130 km per hour, will be able to accommodate 1,834 people. It has also been designed taking into consideration the comfort and convenience of the passengers.
Amrit Bharat Express has two WAP-5 locomotive (push-pull) engines at the front and rear. The engines are manufactured at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) in Chittaranjan, Asansol. A CLW official said, Amrita Bharat Express engines have been made aerodynamically keeping in mind the design of Vande Bharat. This special design of the engine will allow the train to run faster.
Currently, Indian Railways uses this engine for all high-speed passenger trains. The 6,000-horsepower engine built by CLW for the Amrit Bharat Express can cover long distances very easily. The Amrit Bharat Express engines are also modernised by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works due to which loco pilots will not have any problem running the train.
On the other hand, the coaches are manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. Amrit Bharat has 22 non-AC rooms, due to which common people can travel at a low cost. The train has two baggage racks, eight general compartments for seated travel, and 12 sleeper compartments. The sealed gangway between the train compartments will provide safe movement and reduce noise and vibration. Moreover, passengers would not feel the jolt while sitting on the train due to the 'Jerk Free Semi Permanent Coupler'. Ramps are also provided at the entrance of the train for the elderly or differently abled persons to board the train.
The passengers will not be required to use their hands while turning on the water faucet, as it can be pressed with their feet. According to the railway authorities, this will also reduce the injudicious use of water. The locomotive pilot’s seat is also designed in such a way that the track ahead is clearly visible.
(Edited by : Keshav Singh Chundawat)
