
The Amrit Bharat Express, designed with a primary focus on serving the needs of migrant workers, is equipped with push-pull technology to enhance acceleration and reduce travel time.
Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the readiness of the Amrit Bharat train, incorporating push-pull technology, following an inspection of the newly constructed push-pull rake at New Delhi Railway Station on Monday.
According to a report by ToI, the Amrit Bharat train is scheduled for a special one-time run between Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, the birthplace of Lord Ram, and Darbhanga in Bihar via Sitamarhi, the birthplace of Sita. The anticipated flag-off ceremony is set to be conducted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 30, 2023.
The introduction of push-pull technology aims to enhance the train travel experience, following its successful implementation in Vande Bharat Express trains. The Amrit Bharat train will feature a locomotive at each end, facilitating push-pull operations for accelerated travel.
Trains employing the “push-pull” technology utilize two engines, operating as one, to provide additional power, significantly reducing acceleration and deceleration times. This innovation enables higher average speeds and is being manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.
A key advantage of the push-pull operation is the reduction in train journey time due to improved acceleration. Additionally, the need to shuffle the locomotive for the return journey is eliminated, reducing platform occupancy duration and enhancing existing station capacity utilization. This results in equal distribution of draft and buff forces from both ends, contributing to improved riding comfort.
The Amrit Bharat train, a non-AC service with 22 coaches, includes 12 second-class 3-tier sleeper cars, 8 general second-class coaches, and two guards’ compartments. These compartments cater to ladies and differently-abled passengers, offering a jerk-free experience with semi-permanent couplers.
Operating at a maximum permissible speed of 130 kmph, the train features closed vestibules, a talk-back system, fire alarm system, mobile chargers with suitable holders, and foldable bottle holders. Improved cushioned luggage racks, zero-discharge FRP modular toilets, aerosol-based fire suppression systems, and radium illumination flooring strips further contribute to passenger convenience and safety on the Amrit Bharat trains.