Talgo train arrives from Delhi in 12 hours

MUMBAI: The Spanish-made Talgo train on Wednesday covered 1,389km from Delhi to Mumbai in record 12.10 hours at a top speed of 140kmph. The train took 3.40 hours

MUMBAI: The Spanish-made Talgo train on Wednesday covered 1,389km from Delhi to Mumbai in record 12.10 hours at a top speed of 140kmph. The train took 3.40 hours less than the Rajdhani Express, which takes 15.50 hours to cover the same distance.

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Western Railway (WR) officers said the Talgo train arrived at Mumbai Central station at 2.55am on Wednesday after departing from Delhi on Tuesday at 3.45pm.

“Average speed of the train was 114.08kmph,” said Ravinder Bhakar, chief spokesperson for WR, adding that in the third and final run on August 12, the train will be tested at 150kmph.

Railway sources said the train will leave for Delhi on August 12 at 3.45pm and is expected to reach Mumbai at 2.23am the next day. At 150kmph, the train is expected to cover the distance between the two cities in 11 hours and 38 minutes.

PREVIOUS TESTS

Last week, the railways conducted a trial run for Talgo hauling a diesel engine at 130kmph. The time it took to cover 1,389km was 12.50 hours. Prior to the diesel engine test, the first leg of the test run was conducted using locomotive WAP-5 class, considered as one of the most advanced engines with the Indian Railways, at the same speed. However, the trial failed due to heavy rains in Gujarat.

During Palwal-Mathura trials, the train clocked the highest speed of 180 kmph.

The railway ministry purchased the entire Talgo set, including a pantry car, for the trials. Though the rake looks new from outside, it is a 32-year-old set.