Govt ups train speed to 160 kmph on 2 routes

Government has given its approval for increasing the speed of the Delhi-Mumbai route and the Delhi-Howrah routes, both including Kanpur-Lucknow, to 160 kmph by 2022-23 at a total cost of Rs 6,806 crore and Rs 6,685 crore respectively. This will ensure improved speed, service, safety and create capacity.

As part of Mission Raftaar, Indian Railways is working in mission mode to improve the average speed of trains across the network. Increasing the speed will ensure up to 60% increase in the average speed of passenger trains and the doubling of an average speed of freight traffic.

The 1,483-km-long Delhi-Mumbai Route passes through seven states — Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. The travel time between New Delhi and Mumbai will be reduced by 3.5 hours, now making it a fully overnight journey. Increasing the maximum speed of the Delhi-Mumbai route will also give further impetus to semi-high speed trains.

On the other hand, the 1,525 kms long Delhi-Howrah Route passes through five states — Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. The travel time between New Delhi and Howrah will be reduced by 5 hours, making it an overnight journey. Increasing the maximum speed of the Delhi-Howrah route will also give further impetus to semi-high speed trains like the Vande Bharat Express.