The work on India’s first semi-high speed train, Train 18, is likely to get momentum with Centre planning to get a fresh global tender for 30 to 40 trains.
This move comes amid ongoing controversy over the decision of halting the work on the production of Train 18 rakes at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.
The major reason behind railways stopping the work at ICF was because of the heavy rakes, which has resulted in high energy consumption.
“We are going for fresh global tenders of Train 18 now. This is after the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), the research arm of the railways, changed the criteria for the trainset,” said a senior railways official.
As per the experts, the companies that going to be part of the bidding include Alstom, Siemens, Bombardier, and Spanish major CAF. Also, Indian company Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL), too, may join the fray.
On February 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had touted it as an iconic Make-in-India initiative. He launched the first Vande Bharat train from New Delhi-Varanasi.
