Indian Railways’ Masterpiece To Finally Be Unveiled: Train 18 Gets EIG Clearance, Launch Possible In A Week

After three days of Inspection, Train 18 has obtained a clearance from the Electrical Inspector to the Government (EIG). Following this, the train is expected to be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a week, reports Press Trust Of India.

After completion of the trials, the much-awaited train was in a limbo for more than a month and was given a conditional clearance by the Chief Commissioner of Railway Security (CCRS).

Despite objections from the rolling stock department, the Railway Board gave its approval and sent the train to EIG for inspection on Monday (21 January).

The rolling stock department had said that there is no legal or administrative precedent to send the train for EIG inspection, as it has already received a certification from Research Design and Standards Organisation.

Inspection report will now be sent to the board following which a decision will be taken on the timing of the official launch of the train, the report cited a source as saying.

As per the report, Train 18, which is regarded as the successor to three decade-old Shatabdi Express, has 16 coaches and is built at a cost of Rs 97 crore. It was manufactured in a period of 18 months and is the first locomotive-less train in India.