Lucknow Shatabdi to run at 150 kmph

Lucknow, Apr 26 (UNI) After Railway Ministry's decision to increase the speed of Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express to a maximum of 150 kmph, the Lucknow- New Delhi Swarn Shatabdi would also run at this top speed.

''The necessary upgradations are underway to achieve this and to start with the Lucknow-Kanpur track is being spruced up, ''the Divisional Railway Manager(DRM),Lucknow of Northern Railway R K Gupta said.

In implementation of Ministry's directive, the work has been undertaken between Lucknow and Kanpur to run Lucknow Swarn Shatabdi at 150 kmph at the earliest. The Lucknow division has been sanctioned Rs 50 crore to upgrade the track and signalling system between Lucknow and Kanpur for the purpose.

After this, along with Bhopal Shatabdi, the Lucknow Shatabdi would become the fastest running train in the country.

New Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express has already achieved the top speed between Delhi and Agra curtailing the total running time by about 15 minutes.

The total running time of Lucknow Shatabdi between Lucknow and New Delhi, which is about 6.30 hours presently, may be cut down to six hours. ''The trial runs are on and all the arrangements are likley to be completed during the curent calander year,''Northern Railway sources said.

Meanwhile, the Lucknow station has been chosen as one of the two stations under Northern Railway, Varanasi being the other, to have A-grade passengers amenities. The mechanised cleaning, Cyber-cafe and Food Plazas are some of the modern facilities being arranged here, according to Mr Gupta.

In another achievement, the Northern Railway plans to apply ISO certification for Varanasi-New Delhi Kashi Vishwanath Express train.

Apart from Shatabdi Express and Lucknow Mail, the Kashi Vishwanath Express would be another train to have ISO certificate in recognistion of passenger comfort and other facilities.

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