Amrit Bharat Express: What’s special about Indian Railways new push-pull train for common man? Top images & facts

​Amrit Bharat Express: PM Narendra Modi flagged off the first two Amrit Bharat Express trains on December 30. Amrit Bharat Express is a completely new train by Indian Railways for the aam aadmi, keeping in mind the needs of passengers who travel in non-AC trains. The Amrit Bharat Express, formerly called Vande Sadharan at the design stage, is a push-pull train which draws inspiration from the semi-high speed Vande Bharat Express in terms of looks and features. The Amrit Bharat Express is for second class sleeper and general unreserved passengers. We take a look at some stunning images of the train and list out its features:​

Amrit Bharat Express will have 22 coaches with 12 second class sleeper coaches, 8 general class coaches for unreserved passengers and two guard compartments. The new train will offer space for differently abled passengers as well.

Amrit Bharat Express has one locomotive at each end of the train. This WAP5 locomotive, manufactured by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, is of 6,000 HP. The train has Vande Bharat style aerodynamically designed locomotives in terms of the looks.

The two Amrit Bharat Express locomotives together enable the push pull operation of the train. According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, using the push pull technology to run the train, the engine at the front of the train pulls the train while the one at the back pushes it.

Amrit Bharat trains come with cushioned luggage racks. The seats are also aesthetically pleasing and ergonomically designed with improved colour blending, says Indian Railways.

Amrit Bharat trains will have sealed gangways, similar to metro trains, but a watered down version of Vande Bharat Express. These sealed gangways will allow smooth transit between coaches and also prevent rainwater from falling inside.

Amrit Bharat trains have zero discharge FRP modular toilets. Amrit Bharat trains have been manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Chennai. According to ICF GM BG Mallya, for non-AC coaches, normally toilets are the weakest links. “On these trains, the toilets will be almost equivalent to the Vande Bharat,” Mallya told TOI earlier this year.

In a big convenience for passengers, Amrit Bharat trains have a mobile charger with a suitable holder next to each seat. There is also a foldable bottle holder made of plastic instead of metal in line with the Railway Board’s instructions to use “anti-injury” fittings.

For the first time on Indian Railways, Amrit Bharat trains will have a radium illumination flooring strip which would be beneficial for passengers at night when lights are switched off.

Amrit Bharat train offers jerk-free rides! Yet another important feature of the Amrit Bharat trains is the semi permanent couplers similar to Vande Bharat trains that have been used. These couplers negate jerks when a train starts or stops. Hence, passengers travelling on the Amrit Bharat trains can look forward to a smooth ride experience.

Amrit Bharat trains will be able to run at maximum permissible speeds of up to 130 kmph. The new train has control couplers on end walls for push pull operation with locomotives at both ends of the train. PM Narendra Modi flagged off the first two Amrit Bharat trains between Delhi and Darbhanga via Ayodhya and Bengaluru and Malda Town.

Amrit Bharat train’s push-pull operation results in better acceleration and deceleration, which in turn helps save travel time at curves, bridges etc. where trains have to run with speed restrictions. Giving an example, Vaishnaw said that if an Amrit Bharat train were to run between Delhi and Kolkata it would save around 2 hours compared to a regular train.

Other features of Amrit Bharat trains include improved design light-weight foldable snack table, aerosol Based Fire suppression system in toilets and electrical cubicles.

In the current financial year, two Amrit Bharat trains have been rolled out and depending on the feedback, Indian Railways will ready a production plan for next financial year. After technical feedback, 20 to 30 Amrit Bharat style trains will be manufactured every month, said Vaishaw. There are also plans to introduce AC coaches in the train.

Amrit Bharat Express train fares are around 15-17% higher than the fares of the second class unreserved coaches and sleeper coaches in Mail/Express trains. The fares are higher, given the passenger amenities and faster travel experience. The fares are at par with Antyodaya and Mahamana trains.