Trains on new Delhi-Ludhiana section to run at 130 kmph

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, January 22

With completion of work for upgradation of tracks and signal system between Sahnewal-Ludhiana section and approval accorded by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, many trains on New Delhi-Ludhiana section would very soon be running at a speed of 130 kmph, thereby curtailing the journey time. Trials for this purpose have already commenced. Presently most trains on this section operate at a speed ranging between 65 to 110 (highest) kmph.

According to Senior Divisional Engineer, Ferozepur Division, Northern Railway Anurag Kumar, work is being executed on war-footing for upgradation of track and signal on the Ludhiana-Jalandhar section with state-of-the-art machines and equipment such as T-28 and unimate so as to make strengthen the tracks for high speed running of trains on this section also.

“Work is in progress to increase ballast cushion of 40 sections of rail track from 300 to 350 mm and replacement of 52 kg section rails with 60 kg rails is going on at the Ludhiana-Jalandhar section. At the same time, work for replacement of thick web switches with extremely high-speed points and crossings is being carried out at all stations located on this section,” he stated.

The railway official further said tracks on the Sutlej bridge and all other bridges were being upgraded and a double distance signal system was proposed to be introduced to apprise the loco-pilot with advance status of signal. Moreover, to make the Ludhiana-Jalandhar railway corridor more secure, boundary wall was being constructed on both sides of the railway track.

“Hopefully, all this work will be completed by end of this year and speed of trains on the Ludhiana-Jalandhar stretch would also be increased to 130 kmph, he added.

Meanwhile, railways have further extended cancellation, partial cancellation and diversion of several trains in the region attributing the same to farmers’ agitation.

It was officially stated that 05211/12 Darbhanga-Amritsar-Darbhanga Jannayak express special and 02379 Sealdah-Amritsar-Sealdah Jallianwala Bagh express special trains would remain cancelled till January 24.

The 02715/16 Nanded-Amritsar-Nanded Sachkhand express special train would short-terminate at and short-originate from Chandigarh till Jan 24 while 08237/38 Korba-Amritsar-Korba Chhattisgarh express special train would short-terminate at and short-originate from Ambala Cantt till January 24.

Diverted trains

02903/04 Mumbai Central-Amritsar-Mumbai Central Golden Temple Mail, 02925/26 Bandra Terminus-Amritsar-Bandra Terminus Pashchim Express special, 04651/52 Jaynagar-Amritsar-Jaynagar Humsafar Express special, 04673/04674 Jaynagar-Amritsar-Jaynagar Shaheed Express special, 04653 Newjalpaiguri-Amritsar Humsafar express special, 03006 Amritsar-Howrah Mail special, 02408 Amritsar-Newjalpaiguri Karambhoomi express special, 02318 Amritsar-Kolkata Prakashotsav special express and 02053/55 Haridwar-Amritsar- Haridwar Janshatabdi express special trains would be diverted to run via Beas-Tarntaran-Amritsar; 08310 Jammu Tawi-Sambalpur Muri Express special train would be diverted to run via Pathankot Cantt-Jalandhar Cantt.