After a successful trial run of a high speed train between New Delhi and Agra, railway passengers could expect to reach the city of Taj Mahal from the Capital in 90 minutes – at least 30 minutes less than the currently required time of two hour. The Railways is expecting to start commercial launch of the first semi-high speed train by November.
The Bhopal Shatabadi Express currently takes 120 minutes to reach Agra, while travel through the Yamuna Expressway also requires about two hours to complete the journey.
The trial run of the ‘semi high-speed train’ was conducted on Thursday when a 10-coach train left New Delhi station at 11-15 am and reached Agra about 99 minutes later. Running at a speed of 160 kmph, the train took 103 minutes to reach New Delhi on its return journey.
However, the train took only 89 minutes to reach Agra from Nizamuddin station from where Railways plans to actually launch its commercial operations.
“The plan is to start high speed trains from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Agra Cantonment. During the test run it took 89 minutes from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Agra Cantonment and 90 minutes from Agra Cantonment to Hazrat Nizanuddin. The riding quality was excellent and trial was successful,” said Anurag Sachan, Divisional Railway Manager (Delhi), who was on board the train.
Track to be developed
PTI reports: It is estimated that a cost of Rs.15 crore would be incurred to make the track ready for the semi-high speed train, said a senior Railway Ministry official.
