Suburban travel set to get faster

The railways estimate that a slew of upgradation projects now underway will collectively reduce nearly 10 per cent of travel time on key suburban routes in Mumbai by 2014, reports Rajendra Aklekar.

The railways estimate that a slew of upgradation projects now underway will collectively reduce nearly 10 per cent of travel time on key suburban routes in Mumbai by 2014.

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In a presentation made two weeks ago by the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) to a World Bank team, the MRVC mapped a detailed reduction in travel time by 2014.

Going by their figures, the 82 minutes now taken by the 60-km fast train trip between Churchgate and Virar, will reduce to 76 minutes. Travel time on the 53-km CST-Kalyan route, now at 60 minutes, will reduce to 54 minutes.

While other sectors like the 34-km Churchgate-Borivli and 34-km CST-Thane by slow train will see a reduction of three minutes, the 52-km CST-Panvel route is set to be faster by two minutes.

“We will be able to achieve this due to several factors, including the new trains that run at 100 kph compared to the existing 80 kph, upgradation of power supply, and respacing of signals,” MRVC Managing Director PC Sehgal said.

Besides that, all trains running on suburban lines will be new-age 12-car trains.