Trial runs underway for 20-coach Vande Bharat on Mumbai-Ahmedabad route, major revamp in plans

A 20-coach Vande Bharat train began its trial run from Ahmedabad to Mumbai Central today, reaching speeds up to 130 kmph. This test, part of expanding the semi-high-speed train service, will ensure the train’s performance and safety.

Trial runs of Mumbai-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat between Mumbai-Ahmedabad underway.

(PTI photo)

Mumbai: Today marks an exciting milestone as a 20-coach Vande Bharat train embarks on its trial run from Ahmedabad to Mumbai Central. Capped at a top speed of 130 kmph, this trial is a big step toward bringing semi-high-speed Vande Bharat trains to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Delhi corridor. The Indian Railways currently operates Vande Bharat trains in eight-coach and 16-coach versions. The 20-coach train, which left Lucknow on August 5 and arrived in Ahmedabad on August 6, will now undergo a series of tests. This process, overseen by the Indian Railway’s Research, Design, and Standards Organisation (RDSO) along with senior railway engineers, will help ensure everything is in top shape.

Train to be equipped with several special equipment

From August 7-8, special equipment will be set up inside the coaches to monitor various parameters during the trial. According to a Western Railway official, this equipment will be crucial for studying the train’s performance. The Vande Bharat train is set to leave Ahmedabad at 7 AM. on Friday and is expected to reach Mumbai Central around 11 AM. While the train has had some minor tweaks, such as adjustments to its nose, passengers shouldn’t notice any major changes. The train will stick to speed limits and slow down where needed during the trial.

After completing its trial run, the train will head back to Ahmedabad on August 9 and then proceed to Lucknow the following day.

Vande Bharat’s to speed up to 160 kmph on Mumbai-Ahmedabad route

Earlier this year, there were talks about testing Vande Bharat trains at speeds up to 160 kmph on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route. To support these speeds, significant safety upgrades and engineering improvements have been made. These include strengthening over 120 bridge approaches, rehabilitating 138 bridges, replacing seven bridges, straightening 134 curves, and enhancing track capacities and ballast.

These enhancements aim to cut down the current 5.25-hour journey between Mumbai and Ahmedabad by 45-60 minutes. Similar speed boosts are expected on the Mumbai-Surat-Vadodara-Delhi corridor as well. The total cost for these improvements in Western Railway’s area is around Rs 3,959 crore, with a larger budget of Rs 10,000 crore allocated for the route to Delhi.

Over 50 trains operational between Mumbai-Ahemdabad

Over 50 trains currently operate between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, including Vande Bharat, Tejas, and Shatabdi Express, each with varying speeds on different stretches. Efforts are also underway to speed up travel on the 1,479-km Delhi-Mumbai corridor and the 1,525-km Delhi-Howrah corridor, with significant portions of the Mumbai-Delhi route managed by Western Railways.

Next Article

Follow us on social media

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}