Train-18, now called Vande Bharat Express, India’s 16-coach train, built in 18 months at a low cost is the country’s first attempt at making an indigenous semi high-speed train-set.

Lessons from the project from the Financial Express:

The real importance of Train 18 lies in the lessons it holds for frugal engineering, project management and empowering managers who dare to dream big.. General manager S Mani conceptualised the project and tenaciously followed up for getting the Railway Board to approve for the ICF to build two prototype train-sets. With just about 18 months left for his superannuation, Mani put together a key team at the ICF with a remit to “design and manufacture the best train ever made in India,” matching world standards.