Vande Bharat Express train enters Mumbai CSMT station tunnel on Thursday. Photos/Pradeep Dhivar
To cut the travel time, railway authorities have decided to run these semi high-speed trains on both the routes without attaching bankers, the additional locomotives used for pushing trains from the rear in high gradient areas in ghats, mountain inclines or slopes
The Vande Bharat Express between Mumbai and Solapur is likely to run via the Bhor ghat (located between Karjat and Khandala on way to Pune) and is expected to cover a distance of around 400 km between the two places in 6.35 hours. On the other hand, the Mumbai-Shirdi high-speed train is expected to run via the Thal ghat (in Kasara on Mumbai's outskirts) and cover a distance of around 340 km between them in 5.25 hours
At present, all trains passing through these ghats are hauled up by additional locomotives (called bankers) from the Mumbai side. According to the officials, they expect to receive the trains from Chennai-based Integrated Coach Factory within the next one week and thereafter, the trials will be started immediately on both the ghat sections
Bankers are used for pushing trains in ghat sections, besides avoiding incidents of train roll back in case of parting of coaches. But the process of attaching and detaching bankers takes at least a few minutes, increasing travel time due to technical halts, an official explained. To do away with bankers in ghat sections, both Vande Bharat Express trains will be fitted with parking brakes in which will stop the train from rolling down on gradient
Vande Bharat Express is an indigenously designed semi high-speed self-propelled train set of 16 coaches. The train reaches a speed of 160 kmph in just 140 seconds and provides better riding comfort for passengers. The train has a control management system for monitoring air-conditioning and every coach is fitted with passenger information and infotainment system. Fitted with automatic plug doors with sliding footsteps and touch free sliding doors inside coaches, the train is equipped with aeroplane-like bio-vacuum toilets. The train is also equipped with 'kavach', a train collision avoidance system
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