If DQ is run non-stop in the current setup, it can do the journey in about 180 minutes instead of 195 minutes.
A Ray of hope/possibilities for further reduction of journey time of DQ/Mumbai-Pune rail travel.
- Exploiting the existing DQ route to Ultimate limit that IR can do:
(1) Six laning of CSTM-Kalyan (work in progress,)
(2)...
more... Four tracks from Kalyan to Karjat where suburban trains are operated.(third line is being taken up)
(3) Quadrupling of Pune Karjat track where suburban trains are operating.(planned)
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--a- Above measures can help run DQ run at its max permissible speed without any unscheduled stoppages/slowdowns and reduce journey time from current 195 minutes to about 170-175 minutes.
--b- However, a non-stop train may do CSTM-Pune in just about 155-160 minutes.
--c- Use of LHB coaches with 130kmph speed may bring journey time of DQ to about 160-165 minutes and of a nonstop train to about 145-150 minutes
--d- Further, deploying a Tilting train set with peak speed of 160kmph+ may further reduce the time to just about 120-130 minutes (subject to the condition that track is upgraded to gatimaan standards i.e. 160kmph on straighter stretches).