Faster Shatabdi would reduce Lucknow-Kanpur travel time
Neha Shukla, TNN | Dec 12, 2011, 02.29AM IST
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Read More:Lucknow-New Delhi Shatabdi Express|Lucknow-Kanpur Travel
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LUCKNOW: Covering the 70-kilometre-long Lucknow-Kanpur stretch in 30 minutes by train may sound unrealistic. But, if Railway officials are to be believed, then in coming days, a faster Shatabdi can help in reducing the time gap on this stretch.
The project to upgrade the speed of Lucknow-New Delhi Shatabdi Express, from the existing 110 kilometres per hour to 150 kilometres per hour, between Lucknow and Kanpur, has been discussed at the Railway Board. The board has sought the opinion of the Northern Railways if the speed upgradation could be done till June 2012.
Travelling at the speed of 110 kmph, Shatabdi takes about 70 minutes to cover the distance of 70 kilometres of Lucknow-Kanpur stretch. With an upgraded speed, the travel time is expected to get reduced to 30 minutes or less. Given the speed restrictions and limitations, the train travels at different speeds on the Upline and Downline.
Once the track gets changed as per the technical requirements, it will be uniform speed. The LHB (Linke Hoffman Bush) coaches that train comprises can run up to 160 kmph. "The Northern Railway has got the survey of the track done. The division will have to strengthen the bridges and approaches to cater to the increased lateral and longitudinal forces at railwheel level," said JS Sondhi, DRM, Lucknow, NR.
The basic safety measure required for high speed trains is secured track and improved signalling. The track should allow the train to run smoothly from main line to loop line at the speed of 150-160 kmph. As another measure, signals would be installed at all manned level crossings, again to keep away intrusions.
The reason why the Lucknow-Kanpur stretch has been chosen is that it is the electrified section of Lucknow division. Electric engine can bear the high speed running of the train, as it has almost no moving parts except motors and wheel axles. Besides, electric engine can run very fast without damaging the track and hence it is conducive for high-speed experiment, compared to a diesel locomotive.
The speed upgradation on the other sections of the route will also follow. "It will go step by step," said the DRM. It will also require lot of funds and lot of work has to be done.
The proposal is not exclusive of NR, as operating high trains on some of the A-routes of Indian Railways (IR) is under consideration for long. Railways has identified some of the routes as 'A' types according to the maximum speed that tracks can support on those routes. Routes namely New Delhi-Mumbai Central, New Delhi-Howrah line (Rajdhani route), New Delhi-Chennai Central, Howrah-Nagpur-Mumbai CST and Ratnagiri-Sawantwadi can support speed up to 200 kmph.
Neha Shukla, TNN | Dec 12, 2011, 02.29AM IST
Article
Comments
Read More:Lucknow-New Delhi Shatabdi Express|Lucknow-Kanpur Travel
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LUCKNOW: Covering the 70-kilometre-long Lucknow-Kanpur stretch in 30 minutes by train may sound unrealistic. But, if Railway officials are to be believed, then in coming days, a faster Shatabdi can help in reducing the time gap on this stretch.
The project to upgrade the speed of Lucknow-New Delhi Shatabdi Express, from the existing 110 kilometres per hour to 150 kilometres per hour, between Lucknow and Kanpur, has been discussed at the Railway Board. The board has sought the opinion of the Northern Railways if the speed upgradation could be done till June 2012.
Travelling at the speed of 110 kmph, Shatabdi takes about 70 minutes to cover the distance of 70 kilometres of Lucknow-Kanpur stretch. With an upgraded speed, the travel time is expected to get reduced to 30 minutes or less. Given the speed restrictions and limitations, the train travels at different speeds on the Upline and Downline.
Once the track gets changed as per the technical requirements, it will be uniform speed. The LHB (Linke Hoffman Bush) coaches that train comprises can run up to 160 kmph. "The Northern Railway has got the survey of the track done. The division will have to strengthen the bridges and approaches to cater to the increased lateral and longitudinal forces at railwheel level," said JS Sondhi, DRM, Lucknow, NR.
The basic safety measure required for high speed trains is secured track and improved signalling. The track should allow the train to run smoothly from main line to loop line at the speed of 150-160 kmph. As another measure, signals would be installed at all manned level crossings, again to keep away intrusions.
The reason why the Lucknow-Kanpur stretch has been chosen is that it is the electrified section of Lucknow division. Electric engine can bear the high speed running of the train, as it has almost no moving parts except motors and wheel axles. Besides, electric engine can run very fast without damaging the track and hence it is conducive for high-speed experiment, compared to a diesel locomotive.
The speed upgradation on the other sections of the route will also follow. "It will go step by step," said the DRM. It will also require lot of funds and lot of work has to be done.
The proposal is not exclusive of NR, as operating high trains on some of the A-routes of Indian Railways (IR) is under consideration for long. Railways has identified some of the routes as 'A' types according to the maximum speed that tracks can support on those routes. Routes namely New Delhi-Mumbai Central, New Delhi-Howrah line (Rajdhani route), New Delhi-Chennai Central, Howrah-Nagpur-Mumbai CST and Ratnagiri-Sawantwadi can support speed up to 200 kmph.
