Southern Railway to get Vande Bharat rake, to be flagged off by PM on November 10 – The New Indian Express | So Good News

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Four years after the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, rolled out the first rake of the Vande Bharat semi-high speed train set, Southern Railway was awarded its first rake.

The first train set of Vande Bharat, an upgraded version, is to be introduced on the Chennai – Bengaluru – Mysuru section replacing the existing Shatabdi Express. The train will be flagged off by the Prime Minister on November 10 and the inaugural function is expected to be conducted in Bengaluru or Mysuru, according to railway sources.

However, the travel time may not come down immediately as the track upgrading work to run the trains at 130 kmph is yet to be completed in the 214 km Chennai – Jolarpettai section. The speed limit of trains in the Jolarpettai – Bengaluru – Mysuru (283 km) section has also not been improved, South Western Railway officials said. Shatabdi Express covers 497 km from Chennai to Mysuru within seven hours and the return journey in 7 hours and 15 minutes.

The Vande Bharat train can run at 160 km/h. The maximum permissible section speed between Chennai – Mysuru is 110 km/h. On Thursday, Southern Railway officials led by General Manager BG Mallaya held a meeting to increase the speed of trains and on Saturday, the GM and Chennai DRM will conduct a speed test in the Chennai – Jolarpettai section.

At present, the trains run at a limited speed of 50 to 70 kmph on river bridges and few other places in the 143 km Arakkonam – Jolarpettai section. “There are a few speed restrictions in the Chennai – Jolarpettai section. Inter-ministerial teams are working to increase the speed in a few sections,” a railway official said.

</p> <p>CHENNAI: Four years after the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, rolled out the first rake of the Vande Bharat semi-high speed train set, Southern Railway was awarded its first rake. The first train set of Vande Bharat, an upgraded version, is to be introduced on the Chennai – Bengaluru – Mysuru section replacing the existing Shatabdi Express. The train will be flagged off by the Prime Minister on November 10 and the inaugural function is expected to be conducted in Bengaluru or Mysuru, according to railway sources. However, the travel time may not come down immediately as the track upgrading work to run the trains at 130 kmph is yet to be completed in the 214 km Chennai – Jolarpettai section. The speed limit of trains in the Jolarpettai – Bengaluru – Mysuru (283 km) section has also not been improved, South Western Railway officials said. Shatabdi Express covers 497 km from Chennai to Mysuru within seven hours and the return journey in 7 hours and 15 minutes. The Vande Bharat train can run at 160 km/h. The maximum permissible section speed between Chennai – Mysuru is 110 km/h. On Thursday, Southern Railway officials led by General Manager BG Mallaya held a meeting to increase the speed of trains and on Saturday, the GM and Chennai DRM will conduct a speed test in the Chennai – Jolarpettai section. At present, the trains run at a limited speed of 50 to 70 kmph on river bridges and few other places in the 143 km Arakkonam – Jolarpettai section. “There are a few speed restrictions in the Chennai – Jolarpettai section. Inter-ministerial teams are working to increase the speed in a few sections,” a railway official said.<br />