Travel time between Bengaluru and Mysuru could be reduced to 90 minutes in the near future if trials with a high-speed tilting train, manufactured by Spanish company Talgo, to be conducted between Delhi and Mumbai in the next few days are successful.
Minister for Railways Suresh Prabhu on Saturday said that larger orders for the trains would be placed based on the success of the trial run, which would likely begin on August 1.
The train clocked 180 kmph this week between Mathura and Palwal during a trial run. “This technology will be cheaper as the train can run on existing tracks. Since there are a lot of curves on the Bengaluru–Mysuru line, it will be better. We will start in a short time,” Mr. Prabhu said.
The State government has proposed the use of these trains on the route to reduce the travel time without having to create new infrastructure. Track-doubling and electrification work on the line have been almost completed. A major hurdle of shifting Tipu Sultan’s armoury, taken up by the U.S.-based company Wolfe Pvt. Ltd., is expected to be completed soon.
“In all probability, the track-doubling project will be completed by the year-end and tilting train coaches will be an added attraction on the tracks,” said Minister for Major Industries and Infrastructure R.V. Deshpande.
Tilting train coaches are light weight and designed in a way that they can run on curves without decelerating. The Indian Railways recently conducted the first trial run on the stretch between Bareilly and Moradabad, as part of a strategy to increase the speed of trains, Mr. Prabhu said.
Airstrip in eight cities
The government has proposed to develop airstrips at Chikkamagaluru, Karwar, Madikeri, Udupi, Raichur, Gadag, Bagalkot, and Davangere and resolved to take up development of Chikkamagaluru airstrip on priority as the required land is available. Mr. Deshpande told presspersons on Saturday that the process of floating tender and appointing transaction advisers would commence soon.
Its introduction depends on the success of Talgo train trial run between Delhi and Mumbai
