Delhi-Agra Vande Bharat set for speed upgrade

Agencies Vande Bharat and Gatimaan Express trains could soon return to their original operating speed of 160 kmph on the Delhi-Agra route, after running at a restricted speed of 130 kmph. The Railways has completed the installation of the indigenous Kavach Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system on the section, with safety trials underway ahead of a possible speed upgrade, reported TOI. Read more: Bengaluru-Goa Vande Bharat Express to pass through the Western Ghats and coastal tourist destinations such as Gokarna and Udupi; check route details and scenic spots along the 13-hour journey Eight trains currently running at 130 kmph According to an RTI reply from Indian Railways to TOI, eight services, including Gatimaan Express, Vande Bharat and Shatabdi trains, are currently operating at 130 kmph on the Delhi-Agra section, below their maximum permissible speeds. Read more: CM Chandrababu Naidu wants to scrap Rs 500 notes, wants only currency like 100 and Rs 200 in circulation to help tackle corruption Railway Board had restricted train speeds until Kavach became operational A Railway Board letter dated June 24, 2024, capped the speed of select trains at 130 kmph until the Kavach Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system became operational. The restriction applied to the Hazrat Nizamuddin-Rani Kamalapati and Hazrat Nizamuddin-Khajuraho Vande Bharat services, as well as the New Delhi-Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi Gatimaan Express. Live Events Kavach installation complete on Delhi-Agra route Work on installing the indigenous Kavach ATP system on the Delhi-Agra section has been completed, and safety trials are underway. Agra Division DRM Gagan Goyal told TOI that the the Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO) is conducting trials following the installation. How Kavach ATP system works to improve railway safety Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection system certified to Safety Integrity Level 4 (SIL-4). It uses RFID tags installed along railway tracks and station areas, stationary control units at stations, and dedicated towers and antennas along the corridor to support safer train operations at higher speeds. Gatimaan Express launched in 2016 as India's first semi-high-speed train Introduced in April 2016, Gatimaan Express was India's first semi-high-speed train, connecting Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi with Agra Cantt in 100 minutes at 160 kmph. The service now extends up to Jhansi. The two Vande Bharat services also previously operated at 160 kmph on the Delhi-Agra stretch, while the New Delhi-Rani Kamalapati Shatabdi ran at 150 kmph. Delhi to Agra to get bullet train Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Northern Corridor of India's proposed bullet train network, which could significantly cut travel times between Delhi and key cities in Uttar Pradesh. Once operational, the Delhi-Agra journey could take just 59 minutes, potentially boosting tourism by making day trips to the Taj Mahal easier for domestic and international visitors. The proposed bullet train could cover the Delhi-Agra distance in 59 minutes, while Delhi-Kanpur could take 1 hour 45 minutes and Delhi-Lucknow 2 hours 12 minutes. The Lucknow-Varanasi journey is expected to take 1 hour 21 minutes, while Varanasi-Delhi could take 3 hours 35 minutes. These timings are indicative and may change as the project progresses. The government has not yet released a detailed station-wise timetable for the proposed corridor. Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel ) Read More News on Vande Bharat speed upgrade Vande Bharat 160 kmph Gatimaan Express 160 kmph Delhi Agra Vande Bharat speed Delhi Agra Gatimaan Express Vande Bharat maximum operating speed Kavach installation Delhi Agra Delhi Agra train speed limit Indian Railways 160 kmph trains (Catch all the Business News , Breaking News and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times .) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online. ... more less (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel ) Read More News on Vande Bharat speed upgrade Vande Bharat 160 kmph Gatimaan Express 160 kmph Delhi Agra Vande Bharat speed Delhi Agra Gatimaan Express Vande Bharat maximum operating speed Kavach installation Delhi Agra Delhi Agra train speed limit Indian Railways 160 kmph trains (Catch all the Business News , Breaking News and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times .) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online. ... more less