Nagpur: The Railway Board has asked all the zones of the Indian Railways to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for upgrading several routes to 160 kmph. Zones have been asked to submit DPRs in two months.
In a circular issued on November 3 to all general managers, the Railway Board has given in-principle approval to increase the speed of trains to 160 kmph. This decision was taken in 2017 when Suresh Prabhu was the Railway Minister. It was not implemented except on some routes.
According to sources, the DPR would have been sought for the inclusion of these projects in the general budget next year. Eight routes with a length of 9,268 km across the country include the 1,965 km Mumbai-Howrah and 2,164 km Delhi-Chennai routes that pass through Maharashtra.
South East Central Railway (SECR) and North Central Railway (NCR) has been asked to prepare DPRs for Mumbai-Howrah and Delhi-Chennai routes respectively. Once installed, the travel time of trains on these sections will be drastically reduced.
Sources said upgradation of 160 kmph was approved on Mumbai-Delhi and Delhi-Howrah routes in 2017-18. The work is underway and is expected to be completed between 2023-2024.
In the last three years, the maximum speed on several sections of the Golden Quadrilateral and Golden Diagonal has been increased from 110 kmph to 130 kmph.
SECR’s Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (SRDCM) Vikas Kumar Kashyap said, “SECR has already upgraded its track to operate mail/express trains between Nagpur-Durg at a speed of 130 kmph.”
According to Kashyap, these works included strengthening of tracks, re-alignment of curves, gradients, rail panels, adjustment of overhead power lines (OHE), maintenance, removal of all unmanned railway crossings, etc.
SRDCM said that the engineering department will prepare DPRs from other departments like commercial and signaling to further upgrade the tracks.
The Central Railway is yet to upgrade its tracks to operate trains at a speed of 130 kmph. “Mail/Express trains run at a speed of 110 kmph while Rajdhani runs at a speed of 120 kmph. Tests for 130kmph are in process,” said Central Railway Spokesperson and ACM Vijay Thul.
According to railway affairs expert Alok Patel, the upgradation of tracks to allow trains to run at a speed of 160 kmph will not reduce the number of trains, as is feared. Patel said, “As part of the project, the railways will install indigenous automatic train protection system and automatic signalling.”
“Also, work is underway on the third and fourth lines in several sections which will increase the line capacity and hence, in the long run, more trains will be added. Increasing the speed will help in reducing the travel time for popular trains like Durontos,” Patel said.
In a circular issued on November 3 to all general managers, the Railway Board has given in-principle approval to increase the speed of trains to 160 kmph. This decision was taken in 2017 when Suresh Prabhu was the Railway Minister. It was not implemented except on some routes.
According to sources, the DPR would have been sought for the inclusion of these projects in the general budget next year. Eight routes with a length of 9,268 km across the country include the 1,965 km Mumbai-Howrah and 2,164 km Delhi-Chennai routes that pass through Maharashtra.
South East Central Railway (SECR) and North Central Railway (NCR) has been asked to prepare DPRs for Mumbai-Howrah and Delhi-Chennai routes respectively. Once installed, the travel time of trains on these sections will be drastically reduced.
Sources said upgradation of 160 kmph was approved on Mumbai-Delhi and Delhi-Howrah routes in 2017-18. The work is underway and is expected to be completed between 2023-2024.
In the last three years, the maximum speed on several sections of the Golden Quadrilateral and Golden Diagonal has been increased from 110 kmph to 130 kmph.
SECR’s Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (SRDCM) Vikas Kumar Kashyap said, “SECR has already upgraded its track to operate mail/express trains between Nagpur-Durg at a speed of 130 kmph.”
According to Kashyap, these works included strengthening of tracks, re-alignment of curves, gradients, rail panels, adjustment of overhead power lines (OHE), maintenance, removal of all unmanned railway crossings, etc.
SRDCM said that the engineering department will prepare DPRs from other departments like commercial and signaling to further upgrade the tracks.
The Central Railway is yet to upgrade its tracks to operate trains at a speed of 130 kmph. “Mail/Express trains run at a speed of 110 kmph while Rajdhani runs at a speed of 120 kmph. Tests for 130kmph are in process,” said Central Railway Spokesperson and ACM Vijay Thul.
According to railway affairs expert Alok Patel, the upgradation of tracks to allow trains to run at a speed of 160 kmph will not reduce the number of trains, as is feared. Patel said, “As part of the project, the railways will install indigenous automatic train protection system and automatic signalling.”
“Also, work is underway on the third and fourth lines in several sections which will increase the line capacity and hence, in the long run, more trains will be added. Increasing the speed will help in reducing the travel time for popular trains like Durontos,” Patel said.
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