Rain slows record-setting Talgo in its tracks

Train will cut down travel time between New Delhi and Mumbai from 16 to 12 hours

Mumbai

The train was expected to cut down travel time between New Delhi and Mumbai by around four hours - from the existing 16 to 12 hours. (Satish Bate/HT photo)

A train comprising nine coaches, made by Talgo, a Spanish manufacturer of high-speed passenger trains, which clocked a highest-ever speed of 180kmph on the country’s tracks during its second-phase trials, reached Mumbai from Delhi, covering 1,389km in 15hours and 41 minutes during a third-phase trial. It took only nine minutes less than the usual time taken by Rajdhani Express, owing to the floods in Gujarat.

The train was expected to cut down travel time between New Delhi and Mumbai by around four hours - from the existing 16 to 12 hours.

The Western Railway (WR), however said the trial was a complete success. “There was waterlogging in the Udvada – Vapi – Bhilad section, which considerably delayed the movement of trains as speed restrictions had to be imposed for safety reasons,” said WR.

Talgo covered 1,122km between Delhi and Surat at an average speed of 106.52kmph, while the Rajdhani Express clocked 89.75kmph, informed the WR, adding that beyond Surat, the Talgo train could not implement its trial schedule because of reasons beyond their control.

At Mumbai Central, passengers and staffers applauded the train’s arrival. Ignoring security personal, many were seen taking photographs and selfies.

“ It is a good high-speed train. We have been hearing a lot about it for so many days. It has good interiors, comfortable seats and television sets,” said Vaibhav Raman, 22, an engineering student.

“It is quite different and better than Indian trains,” said Kartik Patil, 25.

In the first-AC or executive class coaches, there were 24 seats with black covers, while each second-AC coach comprised 36 seats with blue covers. The vestibules between two coaches were fully covered and properly packed, unlike in conventional coaches. The gap between two coaches was less than a feet. The toilets were neat and tiny, though very congested as compared to the toilets in Indian trains.

The railways is conducting the trials in three phases, of which the first two were already completed between Moradabad and Bareilly and between Palawal and Mathura .In the second phase between Palwal and Mathura, it clocked 180kmph.

Railway sources said that it going to start the second leg of trials at 2.55am for Delhi, from Mumbai Central.

At 130kmph, the Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani Express and Mumbai-Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express are the fastest trains from Mumbai, though their average speed is less than 90kmph. The railways is looking to replace the existing Rajdhani coaches with Talgo trains.

A senior railway official said that the weight of the coaches is half as compared to conventional coaches, which weighs 40 tonnes. “The procurement cost of these trains may be higher, but the recurring cost of those will be less as their weight is quite less. Even the trains would be more energy efficient,” he said, adding that the train is very comfortable as compared to conventional trains.

Along with WR general manager GC Agrawal and divisional railway manger Mukul Jain, several people gathered at Mumbai Central station.