Recent YouTube videos show that 13005/13006 running as 03005/03006 is now operating on a WAP-7 electric loco for end-to-end basis. It's MPS may have increased on the Howrah-Bardhaman Chord section but for the rest of its journey the MPS is 110 Kmph. Track renewal works are going on between Madhupur and DDU via Patna so we can expect 130 for this train on Main Line route of Bihar in a few years.
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Track doubling works between Utretia Jn and Rae Bareli are complete just like between Varanasi and Janghai Jn. Doubling works...
more... between Janghai and Gangaganj (near RBL) have probably resumed as works were halted due to lockdowns. Rail fans on YouTube from RBL have told me that this train will have to run at 110 Kmph MPS on BSB-RBL-LKO route even after doubling is complete until the existing single track is renewed like the recently laid 2nd track.
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Doubling between Varanasi & Utretia will enable NR to introduce some MEMUs and DMUs for local commute. Trains under the Humsafar and Vande Bharat categories are also expected from people of cities on this route but nothing is officially confirmed yet (I expect a Shatabdi and Rajdhani train too).
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In the years to come, the Amritsar Mail is supposed to be re-routed from Utretia Jn to Alamnagar via Lucknow's Transport Nagar station (TPNR) as the new LKO bypass line is meant to de-congest Charbagh station. All trains coming from Ayodhya Ji/Rae Bareli/Sultanpur side & going towards Bareilly Jn will be re-routed from Charbagh to Transport Nagar station. Alamnagar is also getting a new terminal for shifting extra trains of Lucknow area.
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I've also come across a video showing speed trials of an LHB special train between Ambala Cantt & Saharanpur via Yamuna Nagar Jagadhri. It seems that track renewal has taken place with mega blocks on that section too and a new direct rail line is planned between Jagadhri & Chandigarh to bypass Ambala Cantt for faster commute. Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor works are on full swing between Ambala Cantt & Saharanpur and even beyond towards Khurja Jn side where the other stretch till Kanpur has started.
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I am anxious for EDFC works to start between Dehri-On-Sone and Dankuni for the remaining stretch. The Khurja to Saharanpur stretch of the EDFC is supposed to be a single track stretch due to land space issues. Rest of the EDFC route from Dhandari Kalan (near LDH) to Saharanpur & from Kanpur to Dankuni via Gaya - Dhanbad are expected to be double track sections. I guess the Dehri-Sasaram-DDU section is almost complete if anyone can confirm.
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All trains from Kolkata (HWH/SDAH/KOAA) to ASR/JAT may be speeded up after the entire EDFC is complete & ready for freight train operations. The Howrah-Dhanbad-Delhi route will also be decongested where making the route free of LCs is also under progress for Mission Raftaar that aspires to run selected trains at 160 Kmph (Vande Bharat Rakes?).
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Thanks for reading my lengthy post :)
please wait...Translate to EnglishRecent YouTube videos show that a train with the number 13005/13006 is now running as 03005/03006. It's using an electric locomotive called WAP-7 for the whole journey. The maximum speed might have increased on the Howrah-Bardhaman Chord section, but for the rest of the journey, the maximum speed is 110 km/h. Track renewal works are happening between Madhupur and DDU via Patna, so we can expect higher speed for this train on the main line route in Bihar in a few years.
Track doubling works between Utretia Junction and Rae Bareli are completed, just like between Varanasi and Janghai Junction. Doubling works between Janghai and Gangaganj (near RBL) have probably resumed after being stopped due to lockdowns. Rail fans on YouTube from RBL have told me that this train will have to run at 110 km/h on the BSB-RBL-LKO route even after doubling is complete until the existing single track is renewed like the recently laid second track.
Doubling between Varanasi and Utretia will allow Northern Railways to introduce some MEMUs and DMUs for local travel. Trains under the Humsafar and Vande Bharat categories are also expected for people living in cities on this route, but nothing is officially confirmed yet (I hope there will also be a Shatabdi and Rajdhani train).
In the future, the Amritsar Mail is supposed to be rerouted from Utretia Junction to Alamnagar via Lucknow's Transport Nagar station (TPNR) to reduce congestion at Charbagh station. All trains coming from Ayodhya Ji/Rae Bareli/Sultanpur side and going towards Bareilly Junction will be rerouted from Charbagh to Transport Nagar station. Alamnagar is also getting a new terminal to accommodate extra trains from the Lucknow area.
I also found a video showing speed trials of a special train with LHB coaches between Ambala Cantonment and Saharanpur via Yamuna Nagar Jagadhri. It seems that track renewal has taken place with blockades on that section too, and a new direct rail line is planned between Jagadhri and Chandigarh to bypass Ambala Cantonment for faster travel. Works on the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor between Ambala Cantonment and Saharanpur are progressing well, and it's extending towards Khurja Junction, where the other stretch till Kanpur has already started.
I am excited for the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor works to start between Dehri-On-Sone and Dankuni for the remaining stretch. The Khurja to Saharanpur stretch of the EDFC is supposed to be a single track due to land space issues. The rest of the EDFC route from Dhandari Kalan (near LDH) to Saharanpur and from Kanpur to Dankuni via Gaya - Dhanbad is expected to have double tracks. I think the Dehri-Sasaram-DDU section is almost complete, but it would be great if someone can confirm this.
All trains from Kolkata (HWH/SDAH/KOAA) to ASR/JAT may become faster once the entire EDFC is complete and ready for freight train operations. The Howrah-Dhanbad-Delhi route will also be less crowded, and efforts are being made to remove level crossings for Mission Raftaar, which aims to run selected trains at 160 km/h (maybe Vande Bharat Rakes?).
Thanks for reading my long post :)
