The Konkan Railway High Speed Train (aka The Indian Bullet Train)
Madgaon to Panvel in under 4 hrs @ 150 kmph in the 150th year of Indian Railways
 
 Nav Kaal (Marath Daily) - 10 Apr 03 
 Rajdhani, Janshatabdi Speed to be Increased - Article Donated by Mr. Anant Gore - Translated by Mrs. Geena Mathew

Translation (edited): Rajdhani & Janshatabdi Express Superfast Trains Running via Konkan Railways will have its speed increased to 150 kmph. This will be done in the next 15 days. The bullet train that is to be commenced on April 16th is small, since Konkan Railway sources have not revealed any plans. The Rajdhani currently running at 120 kmph and the Janshatabdi running currently at 130 kmph will be speeded up to run at 150 kmph. Thus passengers travel time will be reduced. 'Raksha Kavach' has been set up over 20 locations on Konkan Railway, will increased to 27 locations

 
 Times of India - 06 Apr 03 
 Fastest train to operate this year: Nitish (Edited Article) 
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=42545280
AGRA: PTI [SUNDAY, APRIL 06, 2003 10:29:02 AM]  
The fastest train to wheeze across length and breadth of the Indian Rail system would be operational in the Konkan stretch this year, with a speed touching 150 kms per hour. "Though we have tested the train speed at 180 kms per hour the obstacles such as level crossings and movement of people on the tracks has prompted us to limit the speed at 150 kms, increasing the safety factor," Railway Minister Nitish Kumar told reporters here.

The trial runs include acutely monitoring the velocity speed per hour on the lines at Konkan besides checking the angular deviation count, he said. It will be higher than the speed of over 100 kms at which the Rajdhani and the Shatabi express presently run, the Minister said. 

The training for manning the high speed trains has been possible due to the induction of simulators and other computerised equipments that has helped the Railways to give a push to the modernization process, the minister, who was here in connection with the operation of the new Agra Division of Railways, said. 
 
 Navhind Times: Sunday, March 23, 2003 
 KRC’s fast-speed train only after April 15 - NT News Service
http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=032345
NT News Service Margao, March 22:  The commissioning of fast-speed train, between Goa and Mumbai, may be delayed. According to the Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL) managing director, Mr B Rajaram, the train would be commissioned possibly after April 15. 

Mr Rajaram, who arrived from Delhi today, after meeting with railway ministry officials, said that the train would take 6 hours to reach Kurla. While, the distance between Pernem to Panvel would be covered in 4 hours, 2 more hours would be suffice for the train to reach Kurla on the Central Railway tracks. 

Going by the admissions of Mr Rajaram, the delay seems to be the result of non-completion of track work.
“We are yet to complete some work, like putting anti-collision devices at railway gates, level crossings, modifying locomotives and others,” said Mr Rajaram speaking to The Navhind Times. Maintaining that the fast-speed train will be an ‘indigenous’ one, Mr Rajaram said that all work would be completed by April 15. Though, the commissioner of railway safety has approved the train after trials, which were conducted at different speeds, the final clearance will only come during the joint meet of railway ministry officials and the commissioner of railway safety. “No more trials will be conducted,” Mr Rajaram said.

Meanwhile, the railway ministry has appealed to the general public to suggest a name for the train. Suggestions in this regard can be emailed to [email protected].
 
 Mid-Day: March 11, 2003 
 Mumbai to Goa in Six Hours - By: Yogesh Naik
http://web.mid-day.com/news/city/2003/march/47015.htm
The green signal for the Konkan Railway’s high-speed Mumbai-Goa train is expected in a few days, according to highly placed sources in the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL). The train is expected to reduce travel time between Mumbai and Goa to six hours.

B Rajaram, managing director, KRCL, is in Delhi this week to speed up the process. “We have filed our papers with the Ministry of Railways. Certificates from the chief engineer and chief mechanical engineer have been filed and final clearance is awaited. When everything is ready, why shouldn’t it start?’’ Rajaram said. He added, “In 1853, when the first train travelled from Mumbai to Thane, its speed was 15 kilometres per hour. The year 2003 marks the end of the 150th year of the Indian Railways. Why should it not end with a train running at 150 kilometres per hour?”

The train, which boasts a Wide Diesel Power-4 engine made by General Motors, completed its trial run on December 28, 2002. Safety is also a priority with KRCL. “We will fit an accelerometer in the train, which will record the number of jolts encountered. The accelerometer will be linked to the anti-collision device and will control the speed of the train. This will be an important aspect from the point of passenger safety,” Rajaram said.

While sources indicated that ticket price would be around Rs 1,200, Rajaram said the fare had not yet been decided. The train will have 10 coaches, all air-conditioned. Despite the high speed, the German-made coaches are designed to block out noise. The coaches boast reclining seats and ample leg space. Passengers will also be able to listen to music. 

The train will start from Goa in the morning and reach Panvel within four to five hours. The journey to Kurla Terminus will take another hour. It will leave for Goa in the afternoon. Initially, the Konkan Railway had planned to terminate the train at Panvel, as the Panvel-Kurla corridor is densely congested. However, responding to passenger demand, it was decided to terminate the train at Kurla.
 
 The Week  English - 26 Jan 2003
 Mumbai Masala - By QUAIED NAJMI - Up in the air
http://www.the-week.com/23jan26/life4.htm
Vilasrao Deshmukh may be facing trouble within his party, but he retains an ear for a good joke. While going around the stalls of the Maha-Index industrial expo, he was led to the Konkan Railway exhibits of the SkyBus project. 

Industry Secretary Vishwas Dhumal said that with the successful trial run of a train at a speed of 150 km per hour on the Mumbai-Goa sector, "Goa will get very close to Mumbai". A scribe could not resist saying, "At this rate, Goa will soon become a suburb of Mumbai!" The gathering, including Deshmukh, laughed out aloud. However, the Konkan Railway authorities have nothing to laugh about. Apart from Goa, many state governments have promised to implement it but nothing concrete has materialised. 
 
 Malayala Manorama English - 04 Jan 2003
 Malayalees steer the 'bullet train' - Our Correspondent 
 
Mumbai: Manoj and Suresh, two Malayalees, have become a part of the history of the Konkan Railways. Manoj was the guard on duty who showed green flag to India's first 'bullet train' when it took its first test ride. Suresh was the co-driver of the train.

The high speed train plying in Mumbai- Goa route can't be technically called a bullet train, says the duo. Even though it is the fastest train in India, plying at a speed of 150 Km/hour, it is nowhere near the bullet train that travels at a speed of 250-300 Km/hour.

Engine driver with the Konkan Railway, Suresh, is the son of Kalarikkal Gopalan and N.J. Leela of Kandasserath, Kodungallore. An expert driver with an experience of seven years, he assisted M. M. Nihare, the first driver on the test ride.

Son of Narayanan Namboothiri and Saradamma of Eram Veedu in Guruvayoor, Manoj, is working with the Konkan railway as a guard for more than 11 years. He entertains hopes that the high speed train will one day run through the tracks in Kerala. He would like to be the guard on duty in Kerala, he says. 

Three cows met with their end while the train hit them. Employees with the railways removed the carcasses of their carcasses at Panvel Junction. 
 
 O'Herald - 03 Jan 2003
 Bullet train: KRC awaiting Railway Board’s green signal 
 
MARGAO, JAN 2 It takes around four-odd hours to reach Panvel from Margao. Add another hour, and one will reach Mumbai from Goa in a little over five hours by the proposed “High speed train”, popularly known as the Konkan Railway Corporation’s Bullet train.

Three trial runs of the bullet train conducted by the KRC at the end of 2002 has shown encouraging and positive results: One, that the train even touched a speed of 160 kmph — a parameter which the KRC’s tracks are designed for. At other sections of the entire 530 km Margao-Panvel route, the train ran at a speed of 150 Kmph — which the train is expected to run normally once it gets the official nod from the Railway Board. On the first day of the trial run, the train — with an American engine and three German made coaches, ran at a speed of 130 Kmph. On the second leg of the trials, it gained a speed of 140 Kmph while the train touched 150 Kmph on the final run on December 29.

“The ball is now in the court of the Railway Board to give us the go-ahead signal”, an exuberant KRC official disclosed. He said from the KRC’s side, the train during its trial run has fulfilled all the requisite Railway norms and parameters. The trial run was witnessed by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Mumbai Sudhir Kumar, who along with the KRC’s Managing Director, B Rajaram travelled by the train from Margao to Roha. “Once the Railway Safety Commissioner gives his official nod, it will then go to the Railway Board for final approval”, the official said but pointed out that the KRC intends to commission the bullet train around April next.

Initially, the bullet train was supposed to run between Margao to Roha in Maharashtra covering a distance of 430 kms. It was subsequently decided to include Panvel — an additional distance of 100 kms. “KRC MD Rajaram has already officially written to the Railway Board to run this train upto Panvel”, another KRC official said. From Panvel, the railway authorities are contemplating to start a connecting train, which will reach Shivaji terminus in an hour’s time. The train fare or the timings of arrival and departure and other modalities are being worked out by the KRC officials.

Even the number of coaches of the train has not yet been finalised, though sources said it might have around nine coaches.
What might cause worry to the KRC officials is the menace of stray cattle to the train along the route. It may be pointed out that the KRC Public Relations Manager, Baban Ghatge had to make an appeal to the public on the eve of the trial run to guard the cattle against crossing the tracks. “Nothing untoward occurred during the trials”, exclaimed Ghatge but said the threat of cattle still remains. On the Goa sector too, places like Verna, Old Goa and Pernem do pose cattle menace frequently, prompting the KRC to erect barbed-wire fencing at sensitive points.

Meanwhile, the Railway Pravasi Sangh has said the services of the proposed bullet train be extended upto Dadar, Bombay Central or Shivaji terminus.
 
 The Tribune - 30 Dec 2002
 Trial run of train attains record speed
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021230/nation.htm
Panvel (Maharashtra), December 29  UNI
Promising to usher in an era of high-speed train journey, the Konkan Railway today successfully conducted the trial run between Madgaon and Roha at 150 km per hour, the fastest ever speed on the track in the country. 

“Everything went as planned and we successfully completed the trial run,’’ a beaming Mr B. Rajaram, MD of Konkan Railway Corporation, who was on board the trial train, told reporters after the train chugged at the Panvel railway station completing the dream run.

The train, which began its landmark journey from Madgaon in Goa on Konkan railway route at 7 am covered a distance of 450 km till Roha near Mumbai in just three-and-a-half hours, he said.

However, the commercial run of the high-speed train will have to wait for sometime as, according to Mr Rajaram, it needs approval from the Railway Ministry.

He expressed confidence that the ministry would give the green signal in two to three months, opening a new chapter in the history of Indian Railways, which is celebrating 150 years of its existence. The Konkan railway track has been designed for a speed potential of 160 km per hour and the trial was a step towards achieving the full capability.
 
 KRCL PRESS RELEASE - 29 Dec 2002
 FASTEST TRAIN TRIAL CONDUCTED ON KR ROUTE: BRINGS MUMBAI AND GOA CLOSER
http://www.konkanrailway.com/website/ehtm/150km.htm
The country’s first-ever fastest train on Konkan Railway was taken on trial run today between Madgaon and Roha (near Mumbai) on Konkan Railway route in a record time, thus bringing the commercial capital - Mumbai closer to the tourist destination – Goa. The trial run was conducted at a maximum speed of 150 kmph, the fastest ever speed on the Indian tracks. This also coincides with the celebration of completion of 150 years of Indian Railways. The distance of 442 kms between Madgaon and Roha was covered in a record time of 3 and a half hours only.

The trial today was conducted in the presence of the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Shri Sudhir Kumar. Also present in the trial special were the Managing Director of Konkan Railway - Shri B. Rajaram; RDSO officials; and Director (Way & Works) of KRCL – Shri D.G. Diwate, and other officials of Konkan Railway. When the trial special train arrived at Panvel station, the whole platform turned into a place of rejoice. Konkan Railway officials, media persons and passengers at the platform received the train with a thunderous applause. 

Konkan Railway track has been designed for a speed potential of 160 kmph and the trial today was a step towards achieving the full potential of the track. The trials for 130 kmph and 140 kmph speed were conducted before this on 26th and 28th December respectively. Both the penultimate trials were successful. 

As a prelude to conducting the trials, Konkan Railway had taken all precautionary measures, like manning of all unmanned level crossings, patrolling of vulnerable locations and Cattle Run Over locations, patrolling at tunnels and through wide publicity along the Konkan Railway line. 

Special imported LHB coaches were used for conducting the trials. The trial special comprised of an ascillograph car, LHB A.C Chair Car , and LHB Generator cum Brake van with WDP4 locomotive as used in Jan-Shatabdi train.
 
 Express News Service - 30  Dec 2002 
 FASTEST TRAIN - Goa hurtles towards Mumbai at 150 kmph. Another first by Konkan Rly (Photo - Indian Express)
http://www.indianexpress.com/archive_full_story.php?content_id=15750

Mumbai/ New Delhi, December 29: India joined the global high-speed rail bandwagon today with the Konkan Railway’s Madgaon-Roha Express succesfully completing its trial run at a speed of 150 kmph that well surpasses Rajdhani’s 130 kmph. 

Earlier in the day, a crowd, including top Konkan Railway officials, cheered home the express train at Panvel railway station near Mumbai that had covered a distance of 442 kms in flat three-and-a-half hours. 

B. Rajaram Managing Director, Konkan Railways, could barely contain his enthusiasm on the occasion: ‘‘We are so happy and proud. I was personally present in the train that touched even 165 kmph at times.’’ He said that once the Ministry of Railways granted permission taking into account all safety considerations, the train will start commercial operations between the two destinations regularly. 

Once regularised, it would bring Goa much closer to Mumbai. Currently, Konkan Railway’s own Jan Shatabdi Express takes eight hours to reach Goa. ‘‘At a speed of 150 kmph, it will take only four hours to reach Madgaon from Panvel and six-and-a-half hours from Dadar,’’ informed Rajaram. 

Officials said that Konkan Railways’ tracks have been designed for a maximum speed of upto 160 kmph. Yet, the maximum ‘sectional speed’ on it is 120 kmph and, therefore, KR had take special measures for the trial run. These included manning of unmanned level crossings and cattle run-over locations and undertaking of awareness drills in villages next to the tracks. 

However, amidst all the euphoria in Mumbai, Railway officals in Delhi threw in a word of caution. Railway sources said that with the existing country-wide speed restriction of 120-130 kmph imposed by Commissioner Railway Safety (CRS), the high-speed train would have to wait for some more time, or run below its potential speed. 

A main hurdle in giving clearance is the fact that the track is not fenced. ‘‘The track structure is fine. It can sustain the high speed. So can the engine. The danger is cattle that may stray on to the track in absence of a fence,’’ a Railway official told the Express. He added that the Allahabad division had wanted to run trains on their section at 180 kmph way back in 1997. ‘‘They had new ABB locos and the track was in perfect condition. Trial runs were also conducted but the CRS denied permission on the ground of safety, pointing out that there was no way to prevent cattle straying on to the track,’’ the official said. 

In fact, Konkan Railway’s USP, right from the beginning, had been that trains could run at 160 kmph. However, they had all been running on 90 kmph. ‘‘On the section between Madgaon and Roha — where the trial run was conducted today — there were 42 speed restrictions, i.e trains have to run at less than 70 kmph,’’ he added.
 Click on image to view larger version
 
 TIMES NEWS NETWORK - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2002 11:05:01 PM
 Trial run of India’s fastest train successful
 
MUMBAI: For the first time in the history of the Indian railways, a trial run of the fastest special train—with a speed of 150 kmph— was conducted on Konkan Railway on Sunday.

In the trial run, the train travelled 442 kilometres between Madgaon in Goa and Roha near Mumbai in a time of three-and-a-half hours, the managing director of Konkan Railways. B. Rajaram, said. Special imported coaches were used for conducting the trial. The trial special comprised an ascillograph car, a AC chair car and a generatorcum-brake van with a WDP4 locomotive that is used in the Jan-Shatabdi trains.

The feat coincides with the celebration of completion of 150 years of Indian railways. The railway track has been designed for a speed potential of 160 kmph and the trial on Sunday was a step towards achieving the full potential of the track, Mr Rajaram said.
 Click on image to view larger version
 
 MID-DAY Online - 29 Dec 2002
 Goa to Panvel in 4 ½ hours?  by Yogesh Naik (All Photographs - Mid-Day) Click on image (of news snippet) to view larger version
http://www.mid-day.com/news/city/2002/december/40296.htm

From Margao in Goa to Panvel (512 km) in just four-and-a-half hours. That’s Konkan Railway Corporation’s (KRC) latest feather in its cap.

The General Motors engine, which can pull a train at a speed of 150 kmph, makes it the fastest in the country. The KRC has been test-running the engine since December 26 and yesterday achieved its maximum speed with no hiccups.

Three bogies, a German coach, an oscillograph van and a generator van was attached to the Wide Diesel Power-4 engine with 4,000 hp.

“Earlier, the Mumbai-Goa journey used to take 16 hours, then it was reduced to 12 hours and now a Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus to Goa journey will take six-and-half hours. This is a milestone in the history of the Indian Railways,’’ said B Rajaram, KRC’s managing director. The engine will be attached to the Janshatabdi. Rajaram added, “We started the 150th year of Indian Railways with the Janshatabdi. We want to conclude it with the launch of this train.”

The KRC has also started introducing self-stabilising tracks on the Mumbai-Goa sector. Rajaram said that Commissioner of Railway Safety Sudhir Kumar had orally conveyed to them that tracks between Margao and Roha (Raigad) were suitable for running trains at 150 kmph. But KRC officials admitted that the tracks between Roha and Panvel and the Mumbai’s suburban sector were not able to sustain high speeds. Some engine drivers said that rails had developed small cracks in some places as the train passed at a great speed. But KRC’s director (Way and Works) D G Diwate denied this. “The tracks are safe at all places. We issued an order that all trains should pass at a speed of 50 kmph till the tracks were checked. We checked the tracks and they were alright,” he said. Rajaram added that the tracks between Roha and Panvel fall on Central Railway.

Kumar and the Lucknow-based Research Design and Standard Organisation will submit their reports to the Railway Board, which will give the final approval for the train. The Rail Coach Factory at Kapurthala has started manufacturing the coaches. 

The KRC is also thinking of starting the new train from Navi Mumbai due to the congestion of Mumbai’s railway network. Rajaram said pricing of tickets hasn’t been decided. KRC sources said that Railway Minister Nitish Kumar was likely to announce this train in the next railway budget.
 Driven by Success 
The joy was evident on engine driver M M Nyahare’s (38) face. 

He confessed, “I was slightly worried, but we attained a speed of 150 kmph and travelled at that speed from Margao to Roha. Finally, we made it.”

Nyahare was also the engine driver on Konkan Railway’s first train to Goa in 1998. Now he drives the Janshatabdi from Kurla to Margao. 

Commissioner of Railway Safety Sudhir Kumar accompanied Nyahare on the trial run yesterday. “He was very happy with the track condition,” Nyahare said. 

 Commissioner of Railway Safety Sudhir Kumar (left) and driver M M Nyahare

 An inside view
A Mid Day team comprising this reporter and a photographer managed to board the train on its way to Goa and travel some distance.

We also got a look at the engine, huge and with “enormous power”, assistant driver Iqbal Mujawar informed us. 

Despite the high speed, the German-made coach blocked out all noise. The air-conditioned coaches have reclining seats, ample leg room and curtains to block out the sun. 

Passengers can also listen to music during their journey. All coaches on the Janshatabdi will be similar to this one.
 One of the train’s coaches
 Click on image to view larger version
 
 Navhind Times on the Web: Goa - 30 Dec 2002
 ‘Bullet Train’ may travel upto Panvel
 
NT News Service - Margao, Dec 29: A confident-looking, Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd, managing director, Mr B Rajaram, today said that the fast speed train linking Mumbai to Goa is a dream not far from being fulfilled.

Paying a surprise visit on the final day of the trial run of this fast speed train, Mr Rajaram, said that instead of Roha, the train would be destined for Panvel, further reducing the distance between Goa and Mumbai. “In the proposal aimed to be submitted to the union railway ministry, we would suggest that this train link Margao to Panvel,” he stated, in a brief chat with presspersons at the Margao railway station before leaving for final trial.

Mr Rajaram said that they (KRCL) is “confident” that the proposal would be through after successful trial runs. Prior to today, two trial runs at a speed of 130 km/hr and 140 km/hr were conducted on the tracks. “The route is excellent,” he exclaimed. This train, popular as ‘bullet train’, would traverse the distance between Margao and Pernem in 30 minutes and Pernem to Panvel in 4 hours.

“This is not a bullet train,” sought to clarify Mr Rajaram hinting that the people should not have expectations par with ‘bullet train’ from this fast speed train. “It’s a high speed train,” he said. The KRCL would name this train once it gets all the clearances from commissioner of railway safety and railway ministry.

“We are sending the proposal once it is through, we can decide on the date of commissioning it,” stated Mr Rajaram, rebutting to divulge since when the service would be operational.
 
 The Hindu Online - 30 Dec 2002
 Fastest train trial run conducted
http://www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2002123002331200.htm
Mumbai Dec. 29. PTI  For the first time in the history of Indian Railways, a special train on trial ran at a speed of 150 kmph, the fastest ever, on the Konkan Railway today. The train covered 442 km between Madgaon in Goa and Roha near Mumbai in a record time of three-and-half hours, the Konkan Railway Managing Director, B. Rajaram, told reporters at Panvel, near here. Special imported LHB coaches were used for conducting the trial. The trial special comprised an ascillograph car, LHB AC chair car and LHB generator cum brake van with WDP4 locomotive as used in Jan-Shatabdi train. 

Earlier, when the train reached Panvel after the trial run, it was welcomed amid huge applause and cheer from railway officials and onlookers. The Konkan Railway track has been designed for a speed potential of 160 kmph and today's trial was a step towards achieving the full potential of the track, Mr. Rajaram said. The trial runs for 130 kmph and 140 kmph speed were successfully conducted earlier on December 26 and 28 respectively, he added.
 
 Asian Age / Deccan Chronicle - 30 Dec 2002
 Fastest train in India does 442 km in 210 minutes /  India’s fastest train does 442 km in 3.5 hr - By Clara Sequeira
http://www.asianage.com/main.asp?layout=2&cat1=1&cat2=22&newsid=34566
Mumbai, Dec. 29: Goa is now only four hours away from Mumbai by train. The Konkan Railway Corporation on Sunday successfully carried out a trial run for a high-speed train running at 150 km per hour. This train would be the fastest in the country.

The corporation is now awaiting permission from the ministry of railways and depending on when it comes through, the commercial run should begin in two months, Mr B. Rajaram, managing director of Konkan Railways, said. And once the train begins to roll, Mr Rajaram promises that the experience would be like "travelling in Europe."

The trial run for the high-speed train was successfully conducted between Roha and Madgaon and the distance of 442 km was covered in three-and-a-half-hours.

"When the train to Goa was first started, the journey lasted almost 16 to 18 hours. This was brought down to 12 hours and early this year we started the Janshatabdi which reduced the travel time to eight hours and now with this successful trial run it will take only four hours to complete the journey between Panvel and Pedne railway stations," Mr Rajaram said.

The infrastructure and tracks have been designed to enable trains to run at 160 km per hour. "The region was opened to rail traffic in 1998 and the tracks were so designed that trains could run at a speed of 160 km per hour. At present they run at 120 km per hour. We have been conducting the trials over the last three days. To run trains at these speeds require special coaches. Initially the ministry had imported 25 coaches from Germany costing Rs 5 crores per coach, but now there has been a technology transfer and they are being manufactured in India," he said.
 
 Loksatta Online - 30 Dec 2002 - Marathi - Madgaon - Panvel .. in four hours 
 JPEG Scan of News Article - Click on image to view larger version (Picture - Loksatta)
http://www.loksatta.com/daily/20021230/mp02.htm

 
 Loksatta - 30 Dec 2002 - Marathi - 30 Dec 2002 - Marathi - Madgaon - Panvel .. in four hours
 JPEG Scan of News Article - Click on image to view larger version - Paper Clipping donated by Milind Gokhale


 
 Maharashtra Times - 30 Dec 2002 - Marathi - Bombay to Goa .... at 130 kmph Article by Sunil Nalawade, Maharashtra Times
 JPEG Scan of News Article - Click on image to view larger version - Paper Clipping donated by Leena Sawant

 
 Maharashtra Times - 27 Dec 2002 - Marathi - Bombay to Goa .... at 130 kmph Article by Sunil Nalawade, Maharashtra Times
 JPEG Scan of News Article - Click on image to view larger version - Paper Clipping donated by Leena Sawant

 
 Times of India - 24 Dec 2002 - PTI  [TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2002 11:37:07 PM]
 Konkan Railway to hold trials of high-speed train
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/uncomp/articleshow?msid=32299110
PANAJI: The Konkan Railway will begin from Thursday the trial run of its high-speed train, which will travel at 150 km per hour. The train will leave Madgaon at 7 am and reach Roha in Maharashtra at 10.50 am. On its return journey, the train would depart from Roha at 2.30 pm and reach Madgaon at 6.20 pm, an official release said. The trial run would continue for 10 days, it said. The Konkan Railway has requested the villagers not to leave their cattle unguarded during the high speed train's trial run. Any attempt to trespass the railway line would be dealt severely as per the Indian Railway Act, the release added.
 
 O'Herald - 11 Dec 2002 - Archives - Breaking News for Wednesday, December 11, 2002
 Bullet train trial run from Dec 15
 
MARGAO Dec 10: The trial run of the proposed “bullet train” will commence from December 15 on the Konkan Railway tracks between Margao and Roha in Maharashtra. The train, which is expected to run at a speed of 160 Kmph, will undergo trials for several days, monitored by the KR officials. “It’s only when we are satisfied with the trials, the Commissioner of Railway Safety will be approached for granting approval for the train”, disclosed a KR official.

Asked when the train will formally run between Margao and Mumbai, the official said “hopefully it will run before the culmination of the 150 anniversary celebrations of the Indian railways”. Towards this end, the Konkan Railway has geared up to meet all the technical requirements of running such a train on it’s tracks. The ballast packing of the tracks has already been completed while other aspects such as maintaining the standard gradient at the curves also stands completed.

Right now, the daily Janshatabdi express train between Mumbai and Margao railway station is running at a speed of 115 Kmph. Sources, however, disclosed that during the trail run, the Janshatabdi had nearly touched a speed of 140 Kmph. The Konkan railway tracks are so designed that any train can run on the tracks at a speed of 160 Kmph. It is generally expected that after the commissioning of the bullet train, the journey between Mumbai and Margao is expected to be covered in around 4 hours. 
 
 Express Travel & Tourism - 01-15 November 2002 - Konkan Railway’s Superfast To Augment Domestic Numbers Into Goa
 Goa - looking beyond the beaches: Bullet Train: ‘The’ Superfast To Goa by Raadia Mukadam
http://www.expresstravelandtourism.com/20021115/goa2.shtml
http://www.expresstravelandtourism.com/20021130/lookin3.shtml
An increasing number of charters flying into Goa have catapulted the inbound tourism numbers as the state has registered a healthy surge in inbound traffic. With Konkan Railways endeavour at launching India’s fastest train, Goa is now set to augment its domestic tourism numbers. “Konkan Railways’ recent venture, nicknamed ‘The Bullet Train’ plying at s speed of 150 kilometres per hour is expected to be India’s fastest train. With Goa being an established and a much sought after leisure destination, this project is set to capture the weekend getaway market. Goa will be an ideal getaway for stressed-out business executives from Mumbai, and other places down the coastal belt, as the travelling time will now be reduced by more than half,” revealed Baban Ghatge, manager, Public Relation & Protocol, Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL), Goa.

According to V C Sinha, Deputy Chief Commercial Manager, KRCL, “While the superfast train will not really be a ‘bullet train’ which generally plies at the speed of 250 kilometres per hour, this high speed train will still be India’s fastest offering on rail. We are test running in December 2002, and expect to flag off the project come 2003.” Despite the fare structure remaining to be decided, the travel community is agog with anticipation while the tourism authority waits with optimism.

 
 The Hindu: Online edition of India's National Newspaper - Monday, Oct 14, 2002
 Yahoo! India News: Top Stories
- Monday October 14, 12:00 AM
 Fastest train to link Madgaon, Mumbai by Mahesh Vijapurkar
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/10/14/stories/2002101401240900.htm
http://in.news.yahoo.com/021013/16/1wflx.html
MUMBAI  Oct. 13 : If all goes well, and Konkan Railway Corporation is optimistic, the country's first 150 kmph train linking Madgaon in Goa and Mumbai will become operational by the end of March 2003. It will cover 442 kms in a mere three-and-half hours, making it the fastest train on the Indian Railways network. The current fast trains had attained speeds of around 120 kmph, the Konkan Railway Corporation managing director, B. Rajaram, said today. Actually, between 120 or 130 kmph and 150 kmph, the difference was not very big. ``It is a mindset. We intend to change that.''

The new rolling stock with improved braking efficiencies, being built by the Railway Coach Factory with German know-how, was already available. By end of this year, the Konkan Railway Corporation hopes to conduct trials and establish techno-feasibility. ``Then, it is for the Railway Ministry to decide.''

The Konkan Railway, running along the Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka coasts, built in quick time with financial participation of the three States and Kerala, has several firsts to its credit. The latest, on its 12th anniversary, will be a `self-stabilisation track' technology, which will make tracks safer. It is to be launched as a ``product'' on October 15. The other firsts are Suraksha Kavach (anti-collision system) and computerised automatic and intelligent lighting at all stations on its network. It has also evolved a `sky-bus concept' for metros where buses would move suspended on overhead tracks.

According to Mr. Rajaram, it was a simple method. ``We just reduce the frequencies at which the tracks respond to the traversing wheel and keep its geometry (alignment) unchanged.'' Speeding trains, he said, vibrated the track and the sleeper and ballast underneath. This was dampened by using a predetermined quantum of ballast, which was pre-compacted and firmly confined, adding to its mass and inertia. An elastic medium, such as reinforced rubber or a thick polyethylene layer, was inserted between the sleeper bottom and the top of the confined ballast. This reduced the overall frequency and amplitude of vibrations and the ballast was not disturbed.

The cost of the technology, Mr. Rajaram said, was about the same as the amount saved by reducing the ballast content by two cubic metres per meter of track. There would be no need to break mountains for the ballast, which was even-sized stones.
 
 GoaCom - News from Deccan Herald - Tue, 24 Sep 2002 12:32:34 -0700
 Konkan Railway to test-run India's fastest train - From Devika Sequeira
 
PANAJI, Sept 20 DH News Service The Konkan Railway Corporation's (KRC) ambitious plans to run the country's fastest train on the KRC route between Goa and Mumbai, would cut travel time between the two points to an unbelievable three-and-a-half hours, from the present 8 to 10 hours. The train is to run at a speed of 150 kmph and has so far been planned to run without a stop between Roha and Margao, which is a distance of roughly 430 kms. The next fastest trains run at 130 kmph. 

Railway officials here say they are confident the high-speed train will become operational by January 2003. It is to be test run end October. But sources in the KRC said much would depend on the trial run on the upgraded tracks and other corresponding safety aspects, which have to meet with the approval of the Commissioner of Railways Safety (CRS). The approved speed for the KRC route at present is 115 kmph for the Shatabdi Express that runs between Margao and Mumbai. 

The KRC has so far completed upgrading tracks -- particularly elevating curvatures -- within Goa, and is working "on a war footing" to finish the Maharashtra-end of the line before October end, the company spokesman Baban Gadge told Deccan Herald. Mr Gadge points out that one of the advantages of the KRC line is that its tunnels and bridges were designed to sustain speeds of 160 kmph, so no major overhaul of the line is required for the high-speed train. 

The KRC has already acquired new diesel locomotives with a January deadline in mind. Officials said no decision had been taken yet by the Railway Board about extending the high-speed train facility to Mangalore which is the end of the KRC line.
 
 Khaleej Times Online - 3 August 2002. 24 Jamadi Al Awwal, 1423.
 Plan to cut down travel time between Mumbai, Trivandrum from Nitin Belle 
http://www.khaleejtimes.co.ae/ktarchive/030802/subcont.htm
MUMBAI - NRIs from Kerala, who currently have to pay high air fare to travel to their state directly from the Gulf, can expect some relief in the near future. Konkan Railway plans to cut down travel time between Mumbai and Trivandrum to between 12 and 14 hours, from the present 24 hours. 

B. Rajaram, Managing Director, Konkan Railway, told this correspondent here yesterday that he was confident of bringing down travel time between the capitals of Maharashtra and Kerala to a little above 12 hours in about two years. This would be done by increasing the average speed of trains to about 100 kilometres per hour. 

"I would like to see people, especially NRIs from the Gulf, catching a train in Mumbai in the evening and reaching Trivandrum early in the morning," said Mr Rajaram. "This is possible and I am gradually going to increase the average speed of trains in Konkan Railway." 

Starting December, trial runs are going to be conducted between Mumbai and Goa for high-speed trains that would run at a speed of up to 160kmph. "We have already upgraded the Konkan Railway signalling system," said Mr Rajaram. "It is a difficult task, as the Mumbai-Goa section is a geologically complex one." There are about 75 tunnels along this stretch of the Konkan Railway. 

At present, the fastest train in India - Shatabdi Express between Delhi and Agra - runs at a maximum speed of 140 kmph. Mr Rajaram is hopeful of increasing the speed to 160 kmph, which is still half the speed of the bullet trains in Europe and Japan. "In India we are not worried about high speed," he explained. "With very high speed trains you cannot have optimum freight throughput." 

But after conducting the trial runs at 160 kmph, Mr Rajaram hopes to convince the railway ministry about the need to increase the speed of trains. "Gradually I intend to introduce these high-speed trains up to Mangalore, cutting down the journey time to below eight hours." 

Thousands of NRIs from north Kerala fly down to Mumbai, from where they it takes up to 24 hours to reach Mangalore (by bus). Of course, the train journey takes around 12 hours, but it's difficult to get tickets. 

According to Mr Rajaram, the Railway Coach Factory at Kapurthala is already equipped to make high-speed coaches, under a transfer of technology agreement with a German manufacturer. According to rules, a train running above 120 kmph should be fully air-conditioned. 

The 1,400-kilometre distance between Mumbai and Trivandrum is covered in about 24 hours at present. Before Konkan Railway became operational, it took the trains over 36 hours to cover the same distance. Once travel time between Mumbai and Kerala is cut down sharply, NRIs would prefer flying down to Mumbai instead of flying on the high-fare Gulf-Kerala route.
 
 Rediff on the Net - July 30, 2002 1304 IST / Deccan Herald - 01 Jul 2002
 Konkan Rail to unveil 'Bullet Train' in Dec / Konkan Railways to run ‘Bullet Train' soon
http://www.rediff.com/money/2002/jul/30rail.htm
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/july01/n1.htm
MUMBAI, June 30 (UNI) Come December and Konkan Railway Corporation will launch the first ever 'bullet train' on the Indian tracks. 

KRCL is embarking on a grandiose plan of introducing a special train between Mumbai and Goa that can run up to 160 kms per hour. At this speed, it will be the fastest train ever to run in India. 

'We have already developed certain technologies to match international standards that will be adopted while designing the special coaches before the launch,'' said KRCL managing director B Rajaram. For years there has been a stock of special coaches fitted with high class suspension, that can withstand speeds of more than 150 kms per hour. 

Unfortunately, he lamented, "our experts in the Indian Railways did not even try once to check their efficacy." This time, however, Konkan Railway is determined to test run the high-speed train between Roha (Maharashtra) and Madgaon (Goa). This would help cover the distance of 430 kms between the two places in just two-and-half hours. 

Currently, the speed of trains running on the 760 km-Konkan Railway tracks is 110 kms per hour. According to Rajaram, KRCL trains have already been tested for speed of up to 140 kms per hour. 

On the safety side, KRCL has developed the anti-collision device christened Raksha Kavach or safety shield, claiming to be the first of its kind in the world, which would be effectively put into use from August this year. KRCL plans to market the anti-collision device in Europe, Australia and South-Asian countries besides the UK and USA.
 
 Mid-Day (earlier Chalomumbai) - 04 May 2002
 Mumbai-Goa Shatabdi to be nation’s fastest train (Edited)
http://web.mid-day.com/news/city/2002/may/24025.htm
By A Chalomumbai Correspondent - May 4,2002 
The Konkan Railway is planning to soon run the Shatabdi Express from Mumbai to Goa at speeds of upto 160 kilometres an hour. 

This would make it the fastest-running train in the country, with the Rajdhani Express coming in second at speeds of upto 140 kilometres an hour. The Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL) began its daily run (six days a week) of the Shatabdi between Mumbai and Goa on April 16. The current speed of the train, which leaves Mumbai at 5.35 am and reaches Goa at 12:30 pm the same day, is 120 kilometres an hour. The increase in speed is expected to reduce travel time significantly.

According to a KRCL official, "The Rajdhani presently runs at 140 kmph in certain sections. Since we have tracks designed for trains to travel at such speed, we can have the Shatabdi going at 160 kmph." 

The improved Shatabdi service is part of the railways' plan to expand facilities during the ongoing 150th anniversary celebrations of the Indian Railways, the official said. In addition, KRCL Managing Director B Rajaram has circulated a 25-point charter to his employees highlighting targets to be achieved by the corporation.
 
 Expressindia.com - 06 Oct 1998
 Rly rivalry slows down plans for super-fast Goa-Mumbai train
http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19981006/27950284.html
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE PANAJI, Oct 5: Rivalry between service officials the Central Railway and the Konkan Railway Corporation has caused plans for a high-speed train between Mumbai and Goa to be put in cold storage. The superfast train is expected to reduce the travel time between the two places to less than eight hours. ``There is a proposal to run a train which will make the Mumbai-Goa round trip in sixteen hours,'' a well-placed railway official source told The Indian Express.

The train which will bridge the 600 km distance between Mumbai and Margao twice daily is primarily meant for transporting tourists. Railway officials say the train, besides benefiting passengers, could emerge a major revenue earner on the loss-making Konkan Railway route. For instance, sleeper coaches could be replaced by chair cars, accommodating more passengers.

However the stumbling block in the introduction of the high-speed train is a small segment of the track between Mumbai and Roha. This stretch, particularly the 75 km track between Panvel and Roha, needs to be improved substantially before trains can be run on them at high speed,'' said senior Konkan railway officials. They allege that the Central Railway expressed its inability to cover the 150 km distance between Mumbai and Roha in less than four hours. ``Instead they asked us to cover the distance of 450 km on the Konkan Railway route -- in four hours,'' say KRC officials.

Though the rail tracks of the Konkan Railway are designed for speeds of up to 160 km per hour, these cannot be attained on a single track corridor. Speeds for even the superfast trains have been restricted to 110 km per hour until a second track is laid on this route. Incidentally this the second-time a proposal for a high-speed Mumbai-Goa train has run into trouble. A few years ago, a private tour operator from Hyderabad offered to run an imported high-speed train on this route. That project had to be abandoned as the Railways refused to allow a private party to own a train.

Copyright © 1998 IndianExpress Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
 
To the Konkan Railway Net Resource Centre - Home Page

  Updated 11 April 2003

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1