Western Railway conducts trial of its fastest local train

The futuristic local trains just got a dose of Mumbai tracks. Late Thursday night, the Western Railway’s suburban section conducted a trial run of its fastest local train between Dadar and Bhayander.

The futuristic local trains just got a dose of Mumbai tracks. Late Thursday night, the Western Railway’s suburban section conducted a trial run of its fastest local train between Dadar and Bhayander.

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The train has a speed of 130 kmph — 20kmph more than the regular Siemens built violet-white trains and 50kmph more than an old train. But it was run at a speed of 80kmph because tracks between Borivli and Virar cannot take the load of a high-speed train. “We ran the train at a normal speed of 80kmph and tested it,” said a senior WR official on condition of anonymity.

Sources in the railways stated that the tracks need to be upgraded beyond Borivli till Virar. The trial was conducted after 1am when the lines are closed for traffic on the suburban section and went on till around 3.30am before the train services start.

In the next trial, the high-speed train would be made to run at a speed of 120kmph. For the first time an engine will be attached to it. “This will help us know the level of sustainability,” said a railway official.