Kota: India’s first Vande Bharat freight train, designed to carry parcels and other items, has undergone a trial run at 130 kmph on the Kota-Rohal Khurd section of West Central Railway (WCR).
Teams from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, were present during the trial that was conducted as part of its technical testing.
The train’s electrical and propulsion systems, including regenerative energy, thermal capacity, traction and braking performance, and jerk levels under loaded conditions, were tested during the trial.
The regenerative energy test checked how efficiently the train can recover electrical energy while braking. The thermal capacity test assessed the performance of its electrical and propulsion systems at high speeds, Saurabh Jain, the senior divisional commercial manager of Kota Division said, as reported by The Indian Express.
The traction and braking tests checked the train’s pulling and braking capabilities, while the jerk tests assessed how smoothly the train accelerates and slows down when carrying a load.
The 16-coach freight trainset has been designed to transport parcels and other goods at high speed, based on the Vande Bharat model.
It has been developed by ICF, Chennai and is equipped with modern features such as advanced propulsion and braking systems, a special roller floor system to facilitate parcel loading, automatic wide sliding doors, temperature-controlled (reefer) facilities, CCTV surveillance, and fire detection systems.
“The objective of these technical trials in the Kota Division is to conduct a detailed assessment of the functionality, reliability, and performance of the rake’s various systems at high speeds. Upon the successful completion of these trials, this rake could play a significant role in enabling fast, safe, and punctual parcel and logistics transportation within Indian Railways,” Jain has been quoted as saying.
