Published On : Thu, Feb 26th, 2015

Rail Budget 2015: Train speed on 9 corridors to be increased 50%

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A policy of attaining speeds of 100 kmph for empty freight trains and 75 kmph for loaded trains is being put in place, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said in his speech

New Delhi/Nagpur: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said in his Budget speech that the speed of 9 railway corridors will be increased from the existing 110 and 130 kmph to 160 and 200 kmph respectively so that inter-metro journeys like Delhi-Kolkotta and Delhi-Mumbai can be completed overnight.

“This will involve the upgradation of track including turnouts and rolling stock to higher standards as well as the adoption of improved methods of track recording, monitoring and maintenance,” he said.

The Budget proposes to enhancaverage speed of freight trains, both in empty and loaded conditions. “A policy of attaining speeds of 100 kmph for empty freight trains and 75 kmph for loaded trains is being put in place,” Prabhu said.

To achieve this target and to maximize loading in every train, the loading density on all major freight bearing routes of Indian Railways will be upgraded to 22.82 tonne axle loads, Prabhu said.

Prabhu also said his ministry was pursue “with vigour” special projects like the bullet train between Mumbai Ahmedabad. The feasibility study for this was in advanced stage and report was expected by the mid of this year, he told Parliament.