Train 20

Most of the long distance train travel in India take more than twelve hours to complete the journey, making it hectic for the commuters. For example the Mumbai Rajdhani Express between Mumbai and New Delhi takes about 15 hours and 42 minutes. Introduction of a semi-high-speed rail with modern coaches would cut short the time significantly.[4] Hence the Indian Railways started to upgrade the tracks as well as design new train rakes that could match the passenger rail standards operated across developed world.[3]

During the designing phase of Vande Bharat Express, the Indian Railways had also planned to introduce a long-distance, sleeper version of the train.[5] These trains were planned to replace the 50-year-old Rajdhani Express[1] The EMU train with aluminium-body-coaches, a first of its kind in India, was estimated to cost ₹2,500 crores. It was expected to roll out by the year 2020, hence it was named as 'Train-2020' or 'Train 20' similar to its counterpart, Vande Bharat Express, which was initially called 'Train-2018'.[6]

As per the designers, the aluminium body would make it lighter, energy efficient and aesthetically 'better looking'. The companies from Japan, China and Europe were said to be in race to win the bid of design consultancy contract for Train 20. The tender as said by the officials, was supposed to be finalised by the mid February of 2018. ICF planned to build two trains rakes by the year 2020 and thereafter add 24 more trains to the service in future.[7] Although the pre-bid conference had attracted around seven global players, the Stadler-Medha consortium emerged as the sole bidder after final submission. Others lacked a pre-condition which says that the manufacturer should have an existing Make in India facility. The authorities began to examine the bid submitted by Swiss based consortium, Stadler.[8]

In July 2018, the Nallasopara-Virar train shed which was built under 'Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation', emerged as a shed which likely would maintain the Train 20 rakes. Western Railways were likely to operate the train which could potentially run from Mumbai to New Delhi.[9]

The Indian Railways received a rap from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) which red-flagged the initial tender, where the Swiss based consortium emerged as sole bidder, stating that it was not in line with India's ambitious ‘Make in India’ project. Hence, a brand new tender was said to be floated with reworked conditions that would also take care of the interests of domestic manufacturers.[10]

In August 2019, the Train 20 project saw a huge setback and was about to be scrapped. Due to the cancellation of two bulk tenders for Vande Bharat Express, there was little to no hope for the development of Train 20 project. A source close to the privy stated that the Train 20 is almost shelved and a third bulk tender for Vande Bharat Express would be floated. An Industry veteran said that there was no justification for the comparison between Train 18 and Train 20 as the latter was supposed to have an aluminium body and additional safety features. The derailment of the two Train 18 tenders may not help the entire concept of 'Make in India' in the long run, the veteran added.[11][12]