Kashi Yatra In 8 Hours? Train 18 To Soon Make It Possible For Delhiites 

The fastest and indigenously built Train 18 is likely to be launched by Indian Railways on the Delhi to Varanasi route on 25 December. With a potential to reach a top speed of 200 kmph, it reached 180 kmph during the test run.

A senior Railway official said, "Christmas Day also happens to be the birthday of late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and it would be a tribute to the great statesman of the country if we manage to launch the next-generation train on that day."

As per plans, the train will start from Delhi at 6 am and will reach Varanasi by 2 pm. The return journey will begin at 2.30 pm from Varanasi and reach Delhi by 10.30 pm.

The fare for Train 18 is likely to be higher, but the launch date is not yet final as the tests runs are not over yet. No major technical problem has been reported so far, say officials.

"We expect Train 18 to commence its commercial run from January 2019. Normally, the trials take three months. But now, it is happening faster than expected," said Sudhanshu Mani, General Manager, Integral Coach Factory (ICF).

The trains will be tested in a long, confirmatory run and the emergency braking distance will be tested before the clearance from Commissioner of Railway Safety for commercial operations.

Train 18 will replace Shatabdi Express. ICF plans to roll out one more Train 18 this year and four by the next year.