MYSURU, November 26, 2014

High-speed train: Chinese delegation to visit Mysuru

R. Krishna Kumar

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The team will study the feasibility of raising the speed limit on the Mysuru-Bengaluru-Chennai section.— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

A high-level delegation of China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co. Ltd (CREEC) will visit Mysuru on November 27 to study the feasibility of raising the speed limit on the Mysuru-Bengaluru-Chennai section.

The technical team will carryout track inspection and collect data on November 28, for which the Mysore Railway Division has been directed to extend cooperation.

Sources in the South Western Railway told The Hindu over phone that the section has been identified as a high-speed corridor and High Speed Rail Corporation of India Ltd. has already signed an MoU with CREEC. The CREEC has been assigned the task of conducting field study, including survey and design work for raising the speed to 160 kmph along the corridor. The local authorities have been directed to provide technical details, apart from arranging a rear-window inspection car to the visiting delegation. Sources in the Railways said things have begun moving fast on the issue of increasing speed on the Mysuru-Bengaluru-Chennai section ever since the MoU was signed in September 2014.

Though members of HSRC conducted a preliminary inspection of the stretch between Mysuru and Bengaluru last month, there was scepticism that speeds of 160 kmph could be achieved on the section in view of track geometry and curvature.

With 135 curves of more than 5 degrees, the Railway officials had pointed out that a top speed of 160 kmph could be achieved only on an 8-km stretch in the entire corridor. Hence, it was mooted that using conventional technology with a little investment on tracks to reduce the curvature at 37 places, a speed of 130 kmph could be achieved to cover the 139-km distance in 75 minutes or less.