Premium trains Shatabdi, Rajdhani likely to replace by world-class trains soon

Indian Railways is planning to save time of its passengers. If a report published in the Times of India is to be believed then the Railways will soon replaced premium trains like Shatabdi and Rajdhani will be replaced by world-class trains. 

The report said that a world-class train, known by the name of Train 18 will replace Shatabdi by June this year and another one by the name Train 20 will take place of Rajdhani in the year 2020. 

The special trains will be designed by Railways' Integral Coach Factory. 

ICF has plans of manufacturing the first set of 16 coaches by June. While Train 18 will have body of stainless steel, Train 20 will have an all-aluminium body.

The report said that the trains can reach speed of 160 kmph and their aerodynamic nose would allow for lower wind resistance. 

The world-class trains are also expected to have wi-fi and modular bio toilets, among other key features. 

Meanwhile, after officials found that contractors managing the toilets at rail stations on the Central Railway were switching off fans at the lavatories to save power thus leaving the loos stinking, the authorities have decided to foot the electricity bills. 

The CR has sent a proposal to the higher-ups for approval. The Railways has given contracts for pay-and-use toilets for better management.

During a recent surprise check, senior CR officials were shocked to find that the contractors had been turning off electricity supply to save money. 

On the CR, there are 117 toilet blocks of which 37 of them have been given on contract basis where the pay-and-use system is in place. Here one has to pay Re 1 to use the urinals. There have been complaints that gullible users are at times made to pay much more to use the facilities. 

The Western Railway, on the other hand, has 34 free urinals and 23 blocks where users are charged. WR officials say they use good quality disinfectants to keep the toilets clean and stink-free.