Talgo train outruns Gatiman clocking 180 km per hour, aims for 220 kmph

A lightweight Spanish train, Talgo has clocked a maximum speed of 180 kms per hour between Mathura and Palwal on Wednesday (13 July), beating the earlier train speed record of Gatiman Express at 160 km per hour between Delhi and Agra.

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The trial run, however, was conducted with empty coaches, reported the Indian Express.

The next trial will be conducted between Mumbai and New Delhi, said the Times of India. The train will aim at running at 220 kmph, said Dilip Kumar Singh, additional divisional railway manager, Agra.

Earlier, a PTI report had said that Talgo had reached 120 km per hour speed on the route. On 9 July, the train with nine coaches started the journey at 12.40 PM from Mathura and reached Palwal at 1.33 PM covering the 84 km distance in about 53 minutes, said a senior railway official who was part of the testing team told PTI.

On the results of the trial run, the official said that "prima facie it seems to be okay. But it will be known only after the examination of the various datas being recorded during the trial journey."

During the first trial between Bareilly and Moradabad stations last month, the speed ranged between 80-115 km per hour. Hauled by a 4,500 HP diesel engine, Talgo coaches are lightweight and designed in a way that it can run on curves without decelerating the speed.

A team of Spanish officials along with railways officials and experts from Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO) were present onboard during the trial. The train consists of two Executive Class cars, four Chair Cars, a cafeteria, a power car and a tail-end coach for staff and equipment. Shipped from Barcelona, the Talgo aluminium coaches anchored at Mumbai port on April 21.

Besides speed, testing team will also take note of vibration, safety and stability of lightweight coaches during the trial and these technical parameters were vital for high speed run. There will also be a final trial between Mumbai-Delhi route before finalising the report.

After the successful launch of semi-high speed (160 kmph) Gatimaan Express on the Delhi-Agra route in April, Talgo trial is being conducted as part of railways strategy to increase the speed of trains. According to the plan, Talgo train is expected to press into service on Delhi-Mumbai sector.

Currently, Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani Express runs at an average speed of 85 km per hour while the Talgo train can maintain an average speed of 125 km per hour. Talgo envisages the journey between Delhi and Mumbai can be completed in about 12 hours as compared to 17 hours at present.

Besides reducing travel time, Talgo's lighter trains consume 30 per cent less energy.

The Railways has set up a Mobility Directorate to work on strategies to increase speed of trains.