Passenger Trains Achieve Remarkable 130 kmph Speed on Pune-Daund Route
Sumit Singh
Pune, 28th August 2023: In a significant development, passenger trains commenced operations at the impressive maximum speed of 130 kmph along the Pune-Daund rail section. The milestone was reached on Monday, August 28, as Train No. 18520 Lomanya Tilak Terminus-Vishakhapatnam Express proudly claimed the distinction of being the first train to achieve this elevated speed threshold.
The journey of Train No. 18520 commenced from Pune at precisely 10:42 AM, crossing the Daund station at 11:43 AM. This operational shift resulted in a time-saving of 5 minutes for the entire travel distance of 76 kilometers between Pune and Daund. This advancement sets the stage for upcoming developments as well, with plans in motion to facilitate two more trains, namely Train No. 22944 Indore-Daund Express and Train No. 11301 Mumbai-Bengaluru Udyan Express, to operate at the same 130 kmph speed.
A far-reaching vision underpins these changes, aiming to systematically elevate the speed of all 22 pairs of trains equipped with LHB rakes on the Pune-Daund route to 130 kmph—a significant upgrade from the previous speed limit of 110 kmph. To accommodate this leap in speed, meticulous technical groundwork including track enhancements, OHE regulations, and signaling modifications were undertaken, ensuring a safe and seamless travel experience.
The shift to the new speed limit is founded on unwavering attention to safety measures. Earlier, a comprehensive technical inspection of the section was conducted by a team led by Chief Safety Commissioner of the Central Circle, Manoj Arora, General Manager of Central Railway, Naresh Lalwani, and Divisional Railway Manager of Pune Division, Indu Dubey. Their collaborative efforts identified areas of improvement and addressed bottlenecks, culminating in the successful operation of the first train at the new speed of 130 kmph.
