NATION | Trains
Tejas Express, equipped with WiFi & LCD screens, flagged off by Suresh Prabhu in Mumbai
The speed of all long-distance trains will be increased in the next two to three years, Union minister Suresh Prabhu said in Dadar after flagging off the maiden run of Tejas Express, the country’s first high-speed, amenities-rich train at CST on Monday.
Tejas, which is equipped to run at 200 kmph, will be allowed to operate at a maximum speed of only 180 kmph due to technical constraints related to tracks and signals. Tejas will run five days a week between CST, Mumbai and Karmali, Goa. The Jan Shatabdi Express, which operates between Dadar in Mumbai and Madgaon in Goa, comes a close second at 160 kmph.
Mr Prabhu said that the aim was to reduce travel time from Mumbai to Goa, Mumbai to Delhi and Mumbai to Ahmedabad so that passengers found it a viable alternative to air travel. “We are getting a completely new stock of coaches for long-distance
Tejas, which is equipped to run at 200 kmph, will be allowed to operate at a maximum speed of only 180 kmph due to technical constraints related to tracks and signals
passengers, but this plan will not see results till two to three years later,” he said, adding that nearly 40,000 coaches in the country were undergoing retrofitting to allow them to fun faster. “Along with this retrofitting, we are looking at changing the infrastructure of tracks that will enable us run these trains faster. Again, these advantages will take time to reach fruition,” Mr Prabhu said.
Tejas’ sheen may be a tad dampened as Konkan Railway (KR) will be placing speed restrictions of 90 kmph on all trains, including Tejas. KR chief public relations officer, L.K. Verma said, “Yes, since 2001, we have implemented these speed restrictions as we have one of the steepest ghats as compared to any other region. This is a precaution but it will be lifted post monsoon.” Mr Prabhu further said that trains including - the Humsafar AC chair car meant for the middle class, Uday double decker for short and busy routes, and Antyodaya; a completely unreserved train meant for those from the lower economic strata – were a means to win back passengers who had shifted to air travel.