Bishan Chandra Layek, who has been operating express trains since 2014, will be among the lucky few to drive the Vande Bharat which will soon ply between Howrah and New Jalpaiguri.
On Tuesday, when the semi-high-speed train reached Howrah station, several loco pilots, including Layek, had huddled at the driver’s cabin.
“The best thing about driving this train is its speed. The pick-up is extremely smooth and it’s equally easy to bring the train to a grinding halt,” said Layek, adding that the drive was extremely smooth and light compared to the usual diesel engines. While several new train drivers are still getting a hang of the cutting-edge technology, some senior loco-pilots like Layek have already driven Vande Bharat in other parts of the country.
Inside the driver's cabin
The train will run between 100 and 130 kmph. The driver needs to be skilled and experienced enough to control the machine at that speed.
Agreeing with Layek, another senior loco-pilot, Anil Kumar, said unlike the usual diesel engines, Vande Bharat trains run on two engines. “While one pulls the train, the other pushes it, a similar technology that is used in local trains, but this one is far superior,” Kumar added.
“The doors will remain shut while the train is in motion and will open only when the train stops," said Layek.
For security reasons, there are around 16 CCTV cameras in each driver coach and the drivers will have to keep an eye on the video monitors. “It’s very easy to operate the train and it’s superior to the previous systems, however, the drivers must be equally skilled,” Kumar added.
