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India's fastest train makes a dream run
Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Feb 15 (IANS) India's fastest train, the Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express, had its inaugural run Wednesday, reaching the Taj Mahal city of Agra in just one hour and 56 minutes.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad flagged off the train at the New Delhi railway station. After covering the 199 km run between New Delhi and Agra at a speed of 150 km an hour, it ran at 120 km per hour on its way to Bhopal.

"Feb 15 will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Indian Railways," the minister said.

"We have started this train as an experiment. We will study the performance of this line and may go for 150-km-an-hour trains on the Delhi-Howrah and Delhi-Mumbai routes also," Lalu Prasad told IANS.

The New Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi has sparklingly new eight Chair Car compartments with 78 seats each as against 67 seats earlier, an executive coach of 56 seats and two power cars.

A total of 680 passengers can travel at a time compared to the earlier number of 582.

"The train will run for six days at 150 km per hour. But on Fridays it will run only at a speed of 120 km on the entire route of 705 km," said J.P. Batra, chairman of the Railway Board.

A super-fast WAP-5 locomotive will pull the train.

The minister said the tracks on the Delhi-Agra line were fortified to withstand the high speed and fences had been raised at many points to avoid accidental intrusions.
 
 

Delhi-Agra in under two hours by fastest train 
(LEAD, changing dateline)
Indo-Asian News Service

Agra, Feb 15 (IANS) With excited passengers and an equally enthusiastic crew, India's fastest train, the Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express, Wednesday zoomed into this Taj Mahal city in just under two hours amid some safety concerns.

"It surely is a red letter day in the history of Indian Railways," said an excited railway official as the train, running at 150 km per hour, arrived at the Agra Cantonment station.

The train covered the 199 km run between New Delhi and Agra in an hour and 56 minutes, reducing travel time by 15 minutes. From Agra, it ran at 120 km per hour on its way to Bhopal. 

Among the passengers were some 150 mentally challenged children accompanied by teachers and dozens of scribes from New Delhi. Most of those on board Wednesday had a free ride, courtesy the railways. 

"The journey was smooth and perfect and we were all very excited about the inaugural run," said Gyanendra Kulshretra, a railway consultative committee member.

The engine driver, S.P. Maurya, was as excited as the Divisional Railways Manager (DRM) Suresh who had been overseeing arrangements for the guests since morning.

Asked about the safety measures, Suresh admitted that some stretches on the route from Delhi needed fencing and the work would be taken up when funds were released. 

Railway officials said the problem of stray animals crossing the tracks was real and had to be addressed on a priority basis for the safety of the passengers.

There was a minor hiccup en route Wednesday, when the train stopped for a short while somewhere between Mathura and Agra after a child pressed a wrong button in the toilet, according to a traveller. 

However, the locals, particularly travel agents and hoteliers, were not too impressed by the train. 

"Just 15 minutes, of what use can this be? Had it been one hour, tourists could have gained by staying longer at the Taj or taking a leisurely stroll instead of rushing back to catch the train," said Surendra Sharma, president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association. 

Sandeep Arora, owner of a hotel here, wondered why all the hype had been created. 

"Ten or 15 minutes gained make no sense in a country where time is of no value," Sandeep said, adding most tourists coming here factored in delays and unnecessary waits into their programmes.

However, some travel agents and guides were more positive. "Foreign tourists will surely have a better image of a resurgent India after a jaunt on this train." 

The new-look Shatabdi, with German-made bogies and an AC cabin for the driver and the crew, was flagged off from New Delhi by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad.

"Feb 15 will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Indian Railways," the minister said. 

"We have started this train as an experiment. We will study the performance of this line and may go for 150-km-an-hour trains on the Delhi-Howrah and Delhi-Mumbai routes also," Lalu Prasad told IANS.

The Shatabdi has sparkling new eight chair car compartments with 78 seats each as against 67 seats earlier, an executive coach of 56 seats and two power cars. A total of 680 passengers can travel at a time compared to the earlier number of 582.

"The train will run for six days at 150 km per hour. But on Fridays it will run only at a speed of 120 km on the entire 705-km route," said J.P. Batra, chairman of the Railway Board. 

A super-fast WAP-5 locomotive will pull the train. 

The minister said the tracks on the Delhi-Agra line were fortified to withstand the high speed and fences had been raised at many points to avoid accidental intrusions.