In the coming week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate India’s first Rapid Rail train, named RAPIDX, marking a significant milestone for the country’s rail network. This event will take place on the 17-km priority corridor situated in Ghaziabad, coinciding with the Navratri festival. What makes this inaugural journey even more noteworthy is that the RAPIDX train will be operated by women pilots, a historic first for Indian railways.
The completion of the Sahibabad to Duhai Depot priority corridor’s construction, a key segment for commercial train operations, was finalized approximately four to five months ago, setting the stage for this momentous launch. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), responsible for this project that connects Delhi and Meerut, is also introducing a mobile app called “RAPIDX CONNECT.” Additionally, they are virtually launching the indigenously constructed platform screen corridor. During this occasion, the NCRTC will unveil the Sarai Kale Khan terminus in Delhi, which will serve as the central station linking future Regional Rail Train System (RRTS) corridors, facilitating travel between Panipat and Alwar.
The Delhi-Meerut RAPIDX network, spanning 82 km, is slated to achieve full operational status by 2025. The establishment of RRTS corridors, initially conceived during the UPA-II administration, aims to significantly reduce travel time between Delhi and prominent cities within the National Capital Region (NCR).
The RAPIDX trains come equipped with a plethora of modern features, featuring a configuration of six coaches. Four of these coaches are standard, while a premium coach offers reclining seats and extra legroom, accessible via a dedicated lounge area. Like the Delhi Metro, there’s also a reserved coach exclusively for women passengers. Each train boasts 407 seats in a 2×2 layout, along with an additional capacity of 1,061 standing passengers. Passengers can avail themselves of charging points and complimentary onboard WiFi.
Furthermore, these trains include a public announcement and display system, dynamic route map displays, designated areas for wheelchairs, and an emergency alarm system for direct communication with the driver via an intercom in case of emergencies. Speed guns are also installed to monitor operational speeds, ensuring safety and efficiency.
The RAPIDX system is engineered to achieve an operational speed of 180 km/h, making it the fastest urban transit system in India, on par with the design speed of the broad gauge Vande Bharat, as reported by TOI.
