Mumbai-Delhi Talgo train set for 150 kmph trial run, will complete journey in 13 hours
Picture Courtesy – Gou Laregion
The high-speed Spanish made Talgo train is set to arrive in Mumbai on August 2 for the next round of speed trials on the Mumbai-Delhi route.
The nine-coach train, when commissioned, is expected to reduce the minimum travel time between Mumbai-Delhi by 3 hours. Currently, the Rajdhani, which clocks in 130 km/h, is the fastest train on the route, covering the distance in 16 hours.
The train will leave for Mumbai from Delhi around 8 pm on August 1. During the journey, it will maintain a speed of 130 km/h, covering the 1,384 kms route in 14 hours. On August 3, the train travel back to Delhi from Mumbai while maintaining the same speed.
On August 5, the train will leave Delhi once again, but this time it will maintain a speed of 150 km/h throughout the journey. If all goes as planned, it complete the journey to Mumbai in 12 hours and 55 minutes.
“We are all very excited about the trial runs. The smoother the trial runs are, the quicker we can get them into service. Everyone, including Suresh Prabhu, is waiting for the results of the trial run with a bated breath,” said a Western Railway official.
Currently, the fastest train plying on Indian tracks is the Gatiman Express, which covers the Delhi-Agra stretch at a speed of 160 km/h. The Talgo is capable of clocking 180 km/h and designed to run on curves without decelerating. During the last trial run, officials will try to accelerate the train during curves to ascertain its performance.
The Talgo has already completed the Mathura-Palwal stretch at 180 km/h, covering the 84 km distance in 38 minutes.
After the Mumbai-Delhi trial runs, another round of testing will be done by Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), following which the Railway board will take a call on the route, operational aspects and commercials.
According to Saurabh Gupta, Additional Divisional Railway Manager (ADRM), Western Railway, the Talgo is expected to start service around March 2017.
About Talgospan
Made in Spain, Talgo stands for Tren Articulado Ligero Goicoechea Oriol. It arrived at Mumbai port from Barcelona, Spain in April.
It’s nine coaches include two executive class cars, four chair cars, a pantry car, a power car and an end coach for staff. The train is powered by a 4,500-HP diesel engine and consumes 30 percent less energy than most Indian trains.
