Now Reading: Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat trial passes ghat test
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Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat trial passes ghat test
The Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express completed a successful trial run on the Shiradi Ghat section between Sakleshpur and Subramanya Road, raising hopes for a regular service. The 20-coach, semi-high-speed train with a…
The Story in Brief
The Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express completed a successful trial run on the Shiradi Ghat section between Sakleshpur and Subramanya Road, raising hopes for a regular service. The 20-coach, semi-high-speed train with a capacity of about 1,080 passengers was tested on a challenging route of steep inclines, sharp curves, and 57 tunnels. Sakleshpur MLA Cement Manju performed a puja to mark the occasion.
The trial, conducted in six phases starting at 6.30 am, evaluated the train’s speed, stability, braking capacity, and movement at curves. Deccan Herald reports that the railway technical team studied safety and performance aspects. Siasat.com adds that an Automatic Emergency Braking system has been incorporated. The electrification work on the section is complete, and regular service will start only after further technical and safety clearances.
The Indian Opinion
The trial run is a welcome step, but the hype around a single test should be tempered. Cynics claim a Vande Bharat on this route is unsafe due to sharp curves; the successful trial shows it is technically possible. Equally, celebratory claims of an imminent launch ignore the six-phase inspection and safety clearances still pending. The real test will be whether the train can maintain its semi-high speed without compromising safety through the 57 tunnels. How many months will those clearances take?
Sources (2): siasat.com, deccanherald.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
