India first engine-less semi-high speed train to start operations by December 15

Train 18 -- the country's first engine-less semi-high speed train -- is likely to start operating by December 15, a senior railway ministry official told PTI.

The train is currently undergoing trials in Moradabad.

"Train 18 will run at a maximum speed of 160 kmph between either Delhi and Varanasi or Delhi and Bhopal," the official said.

The fully air-conditioned Train 18, driven by a self-propulsion module was launched last month amid much fanfare by Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani at the Integrated Coach Factory in Chennai.

"We have successfully achieved a speed of 120 kmph during trials. We will achieve a speed of 160 kmph and run the train likely by December 15," the official said.

The gleaming, blue-nosed train has a cone-shaped frontage, similar to a bullet train.

It comes fitted with amenities on par with the best in the world — from onboard WiFi to GPS-based passenger information system, 'touch-free' bio-vacuum toilets, LED lighting, mobile charging points, and a climate control system that would adjust the temperature according to occupancy and weather.