Indian Railways to launch its first high-speed train in March

Indian Railways is all set to come up with its first high-speed train in the form of the 12,000 horsepower electric locomotive train, which is capable of running at a maximum speed of 120 kmph. Being manufactured by a French company named Alstom, this train will be rolled out on the Indian tracks in the month of March when French President Emmanuel Macron visits India.

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Sources from the railways ministry have revealed that the assembly of the first of these high-speed trains has already started at a plant at Bihar’s Madhepura plant, and its trials are also underway.

"The all-new engine would be rolled out in March this year, when Macron will visit India to participate in the International Solar Alliance meeting," said one of the sources.

The source further revealed that this train will not only be useful for passenger travel but can also be used for freight, as it will have the capacity to haul 9,000 tonnes of goods.

Reportedly, as many as 800 such trains will be manufactured for the Indian railway network in a period of next 11 years in a joint venture with Alstom.

The schedule of bringing out these locomotives suggests that 35 locomotives would be rolled out from the factory by 2020, 60 in 2021, followed by 100 every year till the target of 800 is met.