First trial of the semi-fast ‘Namo Bharat Rapid Rail’, which was formerly known as the Vande Metro, has completed its first trial run in Mumbai on 4th of November.
Namo Bharat Rapid Rail Completes First Trial Run, Aiming to Cut Intercity Travel Time
As per the reports, train ran at a speed of 130 km/h, with plans for this new service to eventually replace existing intercity trains—on routes up to 250 km.
Though final routes are still under consideration, the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail may also link Mumbai and Surat.
While the trial was ongoing, a team from the Indian Railways’ Research, Design, and Standards Organisation (RDSO) was on site.
The coaches of the train were equipped with specialised instruments to monitor vibrations, oscillations, and other key performance indicators.
It would on the basis of the collected data that the trial’s success shall be evaluated. It was in September that the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail was officially launched. It currently runs at 110 km/h on the Ahmedabad-Bhuj route, covering the 360-km journey in 5 hours and 45 minutes.
This new service, essentially designed for intercity routes between 250 to 350 kms, aims to reduce the travel time by 3 to 5 hours.
Indian Railways to Enhance Commuter Experience with Namo Bharat Trains, Boosting Connectivity in Bengaluru
Indian Railways is currently working on improving the commuter experience and slashing the commute time aligns with this broader plan. Many people commute daily to large cities for work, business or leisure. Whatever may be the purpose, but the overcrowding as well as slowness of trains has always been an issue.
On the flipside, in order to avoid such commutes, large scale migration has been witnessed from the surrounding towns and rural areas.
The Namo Bharat trains, with a max speed of 130 kmph, come in between the Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) trains and the Vande Bharat trains (that can achieve a speed of up to 180 kmph).
In a recent announcement, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the introduction of Namo Bharat trains in Bengaluru to enhance connectivity between the city and its surrounding towns.
As per reports, the government is preparing to launch these semi-high-speed services on routes between Bengaluru-Tumakuru and Bengaluru-Mysuru.
