Context: Recently, Indian Prime Minister flagged off the new Indian Railway train, Amrit Bharat Express, from Ayodhya.

About Amrit Bharat Express Train

• It was formerly known as Vande Sadharan.
• Synonym to Vande Bharat: It is being described as the sleeper version of the high-speed Vande Bharat trains, 
  • It is a revolutionary train series aimed at transforming travel for the common man.
  • Amrit Bharat Express has a saffron-grey colour scheme. 
• Cost-Effective: It is a non-AC sleeper cum unreserved class service, specifically designed to be cost-effective.
• A locomotive of Amrit Bharat: Amrit Bharat Express has a locomotive at each end of the train. 
  • It is a 6,000 hp WAP5 locomotive manufactured by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works. 
  • Aerodynamic Design: It has Vande Bharat-style aerodynamically designed locomotives. This will give more speed to the trains.
• Train Coach of Amrit Bharat: They are manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.
• Pocket-friendly Travel: As per reports, the Railways plans to keep the base fare of the Amrit Bharat train 15 per cent higher in comparison to the current express trains.
• Travel Route: The first route will connect Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh to Darbhanga in Bihar, reflecting the historical and cultural significance of these two places. 
  • Second route is anticipated to run from Bengaluru to Malda in South India, bringing improved connectivity to the region.
• Coaches: Amrit Bharat Express will have 22 coaches including:
  • 12 second-class sleeper coaches, 
  • 08 general class coaches for unreserved passengers
  • 02 guard coaches. 
• Ticket Price of Amrit Bharat Express: Base fare for 1-50 kilometres distance for second class unreserved coach is Rs 30.
  • The fare for 50 kilometres of travel for a sleeper class is Rs 65.
    • These fares are not inclusive of any super fast charge, reservation fee in case of sleeper class coaches, GST etc.
• Other Features: Improved cushioned luggage racks, aesthetically pleasing and ergonomically designed seats and berths, and mobile chargers with suitable holders. 
  • It also incorporates zero-discharge FRP modular toilets, aerosol-based fire suppression systems, and radium illumination flooring strips.

New Technology at Helm for Amrit Bharat Express

• Push-pull Technology: It would result in significant time savings at bridges, curves, and other speed-restricted sections, making the journey more efficient.
  • It involves two engines- one at the front and another at the rear. 
  • While the front engine pulls the train, the rear engine simultaneously pushes it, enabling improved acceleration and deceleration. 
• Distributed Power Technology: Every second or third coach has a motor that runs with the help of electricity supplied through overhead equipment. 
  • Vande Bharat trains are also based on distributed power technology.
• Handling Air Pressure: To address this, the space between the coaches is fully covered, creating a seamless appearance.
• Jerk-Free Train: Amrit Bharat Train is jerk-free as it is geared with the semi-permanent couplers that have been used, similar to Vande Bharat trains. 
  • These couplers prevent jerks when the train starts or stops. 
  • While in the old technology, which used to be practised in the 1990s, the coaches of the train were joined with the help of a kind of coupler due to which passengers felt a jerk when the train stopped or started.

Amrit Bharat Express: A Passenger and Loco-Pilot Friendly Train

• Passenger Friendly

  • There will be space for disabled passengers on the Amrit Bharat Express train.
  • Safety benefits and passenger-centric features incorporated in the new train.
  • The train is equipped with mobile holders and slider-based window glass, which will give a modern touch to the passengers. 
  • There is a passenger information system facility available on the train to display details about the approaching station. 

• Locopilot Friendly

  • Engines have been modified to give comfort to the locopilots.
  • They are completely air-conditioned. 
  • Seat positions have been modified so that the driver gets maximum comfort while driving the train. 
  • Vibration inside the engine has been controlled with the help of technology so that it causes minimum fatigue to the drivers.