Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to commence the inaugural journey on a 17-kilometer priority corridor situated in Ghaziabad next week. This marks the launch of India’s first Rapid Rail train, known as RAPIDX, according to a report by TOI.
Coinciding with the Navratri festival, this train is significant as it will be operated by female pilots, making it the first of its kind in the country. The construction of the Sahibabad to Duhai Depot priority corridor for commercial train operations was finished around four to five months ago and will serve as the venue for this momentous event.
The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), responsible for the Delhi-Meerut connection project, will introduce its mobile app, “RAPIDX CONNECT,” according to TOI. Additionally, they will virtually launch the domestically built platform screen corridor. At this event, NCRTC plans to showcase the Sarai Kale Khan terminus in Delhi, serving as the central station for connecting future Regional Rail Train System (RRTS) corridors, enhancing travel between Panipat and Alwar.
The comprehensive 82-kilometer Delhi-Meerut RAPIDX network is set to achieve full operational status by 2025. The introduction of the RRTS corridors, originally conceptualized during the UPA-II administration, is geared towards minimizing travel time between Delhi and key cities in the National Capital Region (NCR).
RAPIDX trains boast an array of contemporary features, comprising six coaches. These coaches consist of four standard ones, complemented by a premium coach that offers reclining seats and additional legroom, accessible through a dedicated lounge. In line with the Delhi Metro, a reserved coach for women passengers is included. Additionally, pilot cabins are positioned at both ends of the train.
Each train is equipped with overhead luggage racks and offers 407 seats arranged in a 2×2 layout, with an additional capacity for 1,061 standing passengers. All seats feature charging points and complimentary onboard WiFi.
Additional features 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. The trains are also equipped with speed guns to monitor their operational speeds.
According to TOI, the RAPIDX system is designed to achieve an operational speed of 180 km/h, on par with the design speed of the broad gauge Vande Bharat, establishing it as India’s swiftest urban transit system.