The super-fast Talgo train aims to reduce travel time between Delhi and Mumbai to under 12 hours.
Highlights
- Talgo meant to cut Mumbai-Delhi journey from 16 to about 12 hours
- Talgo is Spanish firm, makes super-light coaches
- Final trial today, train was late during Round 3 on Thursday
Today, the final trial will be conducted to determine if a Spanish-made train, the Talgo, can slash the journey between Delhi and Mumbai by four hours, delivering passengers at just under 12 hours to their destination.
Nine super light-weight coaches manufactured by Spanish firm Talgo, which can hit 200 km per hour, were imported to Mumbai in April.
Today, the train will depart Delhi at 2:45 pm and is scheduled to reach Mumbai in 11 hours and 45 minutes, while running at 150 km per hour.
In three of four trials held so far, the train has not hit the required speed.
On Wednesday, the train reached Mumbai 18 minutes late from Delhi in its fourth trial.
The tracks between Delhi and Mumbai cover about 1,400 km. Currently, the Rajdhani Express makes the journey in 16 hours.
The nine-coach Talgo train consists of two Executive Class cars, four Chair Cars, a cafeteria, a power car and a tail-end coach for staff and equipment.
The railways will collate the results of technical and speed tests to determine whether to buy the Talgo coaches.
Railway officials say bids will also be sought from other manufacturers for similar high-speed light-weight coaches.