Vande Bharat train may run faster soon

BENGALURU: South India's first Vande Bharat train on Mysuru-Bengaluru-Chennai route may soon run faster. It currently operates at an average speed of 77-78kmph and is the third slowest among the seven VBs in the country,
South Western Railway officials said the maximum permissible speed on Bengaluru-Chennai route will be increased from 110kmph to 130kmph. On Bengaluru-Mysuru section, the maximum permissible speed will go up to 110kmph from 100kmph. On Thursday, SWR organised a VB trip for mediapersons between Bengaluru and Mysuru. Kusuma Hariprasad, additional divisional manager (Bengaluru division), told TOI: "Our engineers have taken up a feasibility study to increase the maximum permissible speed between Bengaluru and Mysuru. We will take measures to increase speed based on the report."
"Similarly, work has commenced to increase the maximum permissible speed between Bengaluru and Jolarpettai from 110kmph to 130kmph. Once track-upgradation work is completed by September, the journey time will reduce by at least 7-10 minutes," she said.
The official said SWR received positive response from passengers once VB Express commenced operations from Bengaluru on November 11. "In fact, many passengers are shifting from other trains to VB now because of advanced features," she said. The average speed of Mysuru-Bengaluru-Chennai Shatabdi Express is 68-71 kmph. However, both VB Express and Shatabdi Express on Mysuru-Bengaluru-Chennai route don't operate on Wednesdays. Many passengers want the railways to run one of these trains on that day.
"We haven't received any representation from passengers on this so far. Change in timings has to be decided by the railway board since it involves two zones: South Western Railway and Southern Railway," she said.
An official said too many curves are slowing down trains on Bengaluru-Mysuru section."We will commence track-upgradation work, especially flattening of curves, this year itself," the official added.