Error rectified, super-fast train to chug on tracks from March

In the near future, your local commute is set to get faster. The city will get a super-fast train that can run at 130kmph by February end. The current speed at which local trains run is 100 kmph.

The train will undergo rigorous trials in the first two weeks of March and will then be inducted into service.

The train was expected to arrive in Mumbai in November, but was delayed as some crucial parts went missing and few were defective. “Few parts were defective like the air spring which deals with the suspension but now they are rectified and the train will run on tracks from March,” said Dr PC Sehgal, managing director of the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation.

The authorities have not yet decided on which track the train will run. But it is expected to reduce commuting time by nearly 10%.

Integral Coach Factory in Chennai will manufacture the train. Five more such trains are in the pipeline. The train bogies and the technology are sourced from Siemens, Austria.

Meanwhile, the Western railway on Friday flagged off its first 15-car train service from Churchgate. At the function, the general manager of WR, RN Verma briefed the press about essential public amenities planned by the WR throughout the year. “Acting on the huge public demand, we have already planned 30 more foot over-bridges in the near future,” said Verma. Eight foot over-bridges are already sanctioned at Mahalaxmi, Lower Parel, Dadar, Matunga Road, Ville Parle, Malad, Kandivli and Goregaon.

However, Verma called the 15-car trains an experiment and accepted that it is not possible to accommodate 15-car trains at every station. “There is a dense traffic and crowd on the suburban lines. Though we have introduced 15-car trains, increasing the number of services is going to be difficult,” said Verma.

According to Verma, the WR has managed to provide cleaner trains and stations by spending nearly Rs2 crore annually but failed to provide cleaner toilets.

He added that the beautification of Churchgate station would be completed by next month. “The Churchgate station is going to be an iconic place in the city,” said Verma.