Railways is looking at similar light weight type trains for speedy run on the existing network
After the successful trial of Spanish made Talgo train, Railways is considering introduction of light weight aluminium coaches in the rail network to reduce the travelling time between metropolis.
The Talgo train completed its final trial between Delhi and Mumbai in less than 12-hours at a maximum speed of 150 km per hour speed yesterday. Currently the super-fast Rajdhani Express takes around 16 hours to cover the same distance.
We are exploring the possibilities of introduction of light weight aluminium coaches in our railway system, Railway board member (rolling stock) Hemant Kumar told PTI.
Asked whether Talgo train will be considered for the Railways' future high speed projects, Kumar said "We are looking at similar light weight type trains for speedy run on the existing network."
The light weight Spanish Talgo train hauled by Indian Railways locomotive covered the distance between Delhi and Mumbai in 11 hours 42 minutes in its final trial on Sunday.
The Spanish-made coaches with Indian Railways locomotive had left New Delhi at 2.45 PM on September 10 and reached Mumbai at 2.33 AM next day early morning on September 11 covering the 1,384 km stretch travelling at about maximum speed of 150 KMPH.
Kumar said it was a successful trial by the Talgo train comprising light weight aluminium coaches with tilting technology.
Asked about the way forward for acquiring such type of coaches, he said "we are examining every aspect. Whether to go for single tender or opting for open tendering process to acquire such train, we have to take a call on it."
However, he said "Talgo train design has to be changed as it cannot run in its existing form. While the width has to be increased from the existing size, the footboard height has also to be increased to match our platform height."
Talgo trial was conducted here without any cost to railways as the Spanish company did bear the entire cost of shipment of coaches from Spain to India. Talgo aims to reduce travel time between Delhi-Mumbai by four hours. Currently, the super-fast Rajdhani Express train takes around 16 hours to cover the distance between New Delhi and Mumbai.
Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI
