Railways to speed up goods train under Ambala unit

Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) has started focusing on increasing the average speed of the goods train to ensure the maximum utilisation of the corridor and increase goods traffic.

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As per information, due to speed restrictions and detentions, the average speed is 35 to 40 kmph, and the railway authorities are trying to increase it to 40-45 kmph. A nearly 400-km track under the Ambala unit is a single line track, and the corridor has a capacity to run 60 trains a day. It was getting around 50 trains, of which the major traffic was diverted by the Railways.

An official said, “If the average speed is increased and detentions are reduced, more trains can be easily operated on the corridor. A tender for a feasibility study check for the doubling of the track under the Ambala unit has also been awarded.”

Pankaj Gupta, Chief General Manager, DFCCIL, Ambala, said, “The tracks are designed for the top speed of 100 kmph. While the goods train with loaded wagons run at a speed of around 75 kmph, due to speed restrictions at various locations, detention and crossing, the average speed remains around 35-40 kmph. We are focusing on increasing the average speed.”

“An increase in speed will help in the faster transportation of goods, attracting more traffic and in operating more trains. The average speed on the Sahnewal-Pilkhani section is touching over 40 kmph already, while it was 35 kmph on the Khurja-Pilkhani section due to restrictions,” he said.

The CGM added, “Efforts are also being made to increase the goods traffic, for which the government and private companies are being motivated to use the railway corridor. For the handling and movement of containers and cargo, new terminals are being developed. The transportation of the goods through the corridor will reduce the cost of logistics and deliver the goods much faster.”

Part of UP section now under Ambala unit

A 175.1-km section from Sahnewal in Punjab to Pilkhani in Uttar Pradesh of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor was under the Ambala unit of DFCCIL, but in April, a 220-km section from Khurja to Pilkhani (Meerut unit) of the corridor was also brought under the Ambala unit for operations and maintenance.