Western Railway is gearing up to complete the necessary works to enable Vande Bharat and Shatabdi class trains to run at 160kmph between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, reducing the travel time by 30 minutes. This is part of the Mission Raftar initiative, which aims to increase the average speed of freight trains and superfast, mail, and express services by 25kmph.
The Mission Raftar, however, will not benefit the Mumbai Suburban trains, as they face local traffic constraints and the difficult Godhra-Ratlam Ghat section, which has sharp curves and steep gradients. The trains between Virar and Churchgate currently run at 100-110kmph, but the 491km Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor will soon witness a transformation in speed and efficiency.
The Vande Bharat, which now takes 5 hours and 15 minutes, and the Shatabdi, which takes 6 hours and 35 minutes, will both be faster by 30 minutes. To achieve this speed boost, several infrastructural upgrades have been carried out. These include the strengthening of tracks and bridges, the installation of advanced signalling and overhead equipment, and the replacement of 52kg rails with stronger 62kg rails with 90 ultimate tensile strength.
Moreover, sleeper density has been increased to ensure track stability during high-speed operations. Safety measures have also been given utmost importance, with manned level crossings being replaced by rail over bridges or subways, and all bridges being reinforced. The signalling and traction power systems have been upgraded, and a state-of-the-art train collision avoidance system is being installed in locomotives to provide real-time signals to the train driver. These enhancements mark a significant step towards modernizing rail travel in the region, promising commuters a faster, safer, and more efficient journey experience between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
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