A decision to run the 160-kmph semi high-speed train between New Delhi and Agra from November this year was taken at a high-level meeting of the Railway Ministry on Wednesday.

In the meeting, it was decided to conduct one more trial run within a week before the launch of regular services.

Fast-tracking the semi-high speed trains project, the Railway Board sat down with 19 Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs) and other high ranking officials to thrash out the details. It asked DRMs of remaining eight sections where high speed trains are being introduced to submit their feasibility reports within two weeks.

The sections include Mysore-Bangalore-Chennai, Delhi-Chandigarh, Delhi-Kanpur, Nagpur-Bilaspur, Mumbai-Goa, Mumbai-Ahmedabad, Chennai-Hyderabad and Nagpur-Secunderabad.

“Only after receiving the feasibility reports, the commencement dates of speed trains on these sections will be decided,” Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar told Deccan Herald.

The nine corridors in all were announced by Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda in his budget speech in accordance with the Modi government’s high priority to increasing the speed of trains.

The chairman indicated that the fare on these trains will be on a par with other passenger trains. “Revenue earning is not the criterion for these trains,” Kumar added.

Regarding Delhi-Agra train, Kumar said a trial of the single locomotive, 10-car train was conducted on July 3 to test fitness of track at a speed of 160 kmph. Experts approved the trial as successful.

The trial run took 102 minutes and 105 minutes from New Delhi-Agra Cantonment and Agra Cantonment- New Delhi respectively. He said the New Delhi-Agra route has manned level crossing and all other safety aspects have been taken into consideration. 

The semi-high speed train on Delhi-Agra route will have the highest speed compared to the other corridors proposed. Delhi-Chandigarh semi-high speed train may have a speed of 130 kmph.

“We have to reduce the duration of travel. The speed may vary according to that. If we reduce travel time by speeding up, people will be happy,” said Kumar.