Rajdhani train breaks 145kmph speed barrier

Here’s a reason to cheer about train speed in India. Trials on Rajdhani and Express trains have clocked 145kmph. The trials are now on in Mumbai’s backyard, between Virar-Dahanu and Surat stations.

The Research and Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), the research arm of Indian Railways that has been conducting speed trials and tests, has now reported success of ‘oscillation and swing trials’ of these passenger trains.

“The oscillation and swing trials that were undertaken in the secondary stage with self-generating air-conditioned chair car coaches of Rajdhani, like Linke-Hofmann-Busch (LHB) and normal Express train coaches fitted with air springs, have successfully clocked 145kmph between Virar and Surat stations,” an RDSO official said.

LHB are the swanky, German technology coaches in trains like Rajdhani and Shatabdi.

The speed came close to that clocked by the fastest train in India, the Bhopal Shatabdi — a Shatabdi Express train with a maximum speed of 160kmph and an average speed of 93kmph, excluding stops.

The new-age local train wasn’t far behind — with a speed of 130kmph during field tests. The trials were conducted between Virar and Dahanu Road stations, said a senior RDSO official.

The ‘feat’ has now been listed as one of the major “achievements” of the RDSO.