A new record has been set by the semi high-speed train in a recent speed trial run between Dhanbad and Gaya. The train covered the journey in just 1 hour and 48 minutes, which is faster than both the Rajdhani Express and Vande Bharat Express. This success has marked a new milestone for the East Central Railway and promises a future of faster and safer train travel.
Faster Than Vande Bharat and Rajdhani
The semi high-speed train, which runs at a speed of 160 km/h, has left behind the Vande Bharat Express in terms of travel time. Currently, the Rajdhani Express takes 2 hours and 32 minutes to travel from Dhanbad to Gaya, while the Vande Bharat takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes. However, during this trial, the new train made the same journey in just 1 hour and 48 minutes—an impressive improvement.
This trial run was part of a larger journey that started from Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction (DDU). The train covered the 400 km distance from DDU to Dhanbad in only 3 hours and 55 minutes.
Full Journey Timeline
Here’s how the journey took place:
Departure from DDU: 10:46 AM
Arrival at Gaya: 12:33 PM
Departure from Gaya: 12:44 PM
Arrival at Dhanbad: 2:41 PM
Departure from Dhanbad (Return Journey): 3:43 PM
Arrival at Gaya: 5:31 PM
Departure from Gaya: 5:44 PM
The return journey from Dhanbad to Gaya was even quicker—just 1 hour and 48 minutes.
Trial Setup and Safety Inspection
During this speed trial, a special inspection vehicle was used. The setup included an inspection car, a brake van, and a third AC coach attached both at the front and the back. Different inspection cars were used to monitor performance at various points in the journey.
Important railway officials were part of this trial. From DDU to Gaya, the DDU Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Rajesh Gupta was on board. From Gaya to Dhanbad, Dhanbad DRM Kamal Kishore Sinha was present during the inspection.
Stop at Dhanbad Station for Repairs
The General Manager of East Central Railway, Chhatrasal Singh, stayed at Dhanbad station for one hour and two minutes during the trial. He arrived at 2:41 PM and left at 3:43 PM. During this break, the carriage and wagon department checked the inspection vehicle.
They found a small issue in the loss pipe of the inspection vehicle, which was immediately repaired. The train was first ready to depart at 3:39 PM but had to stop shortly after. It finally departed successfully at 3:43 PM.
A Scary Moment at Dhanbad Station
While the inspection car was on platform two, the Hatia-Bardhaman MEMU train arrived at platform one. At that moment, a couple standing on platform two tried to cross the tracks after seeing the MEMU. This could have been dangerous. Thankfully, alert railway staff noticed them in time and quickly rushed to stop them. They scolded the couple and guided them safely to use the foot overbridge instead.
A New Chapter for Indian Railways
The success of this trial adds a proud moment to the records of East Central Railway. The high-speed performance shows that future train travel could be much faster and safer than ever before. The goal of Indian Railways is to bring high-speed trains to more parts of the country, reducing travel time and offering more comfort to passengers.
This trial proves that semi high-speed trains can be a strong alternative to current express trains. With such speeds and safety measures in place, passengers can look forward to a better railway experience in the coming years.
This achievement highlights the efforts of Indian Railways to modernize and improve transportation. If implemented successfully, it could change the way we travel by train across the country.