Chennai-Bengaluru train travel to get faster as Railways approves speed increase to 130 kmph

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Indian Railways has approved an increase in train speeds between Arakkonam and Jolarpet, reducing travel time between Chennai and Bengaluru, among other destinations. Following upgrades to tracks and signals, trains on this 144-kilometer stretch will now operate at speeds of 130 km per hour (kmph), up from the previous 110 kmph. As per a TOI report, this acceleration is anticipated to cut travel time by approximately 20 minutes.

The enhancement is particularly impactful for journeys to Bengaluru. Vande Bharat Express, for instance, is set to see its total travel time decrease from four hours and 25 minutes to around four hours, while trains like Shatabdi or Brindavan Express will complete the trip in six hours instead of the current five hours and 30 minutes. The green light for this increase in speed comes as a circular has been issued to alert the operations department and locomotive pilots that 124 trains equipped with LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) coaches have been granted permission to operate at 130 kmph between Arakkonam and Jolarpettai.

The track improvement extends to these LHB-equipped trains, as they are capable of higher speeds compared to ICF (Integral Coach Factory)-design coaches. Officials have emphasized that most of the necessary upgrades have been concluded, and this transition will enable a smoother experience for travelers heading to various destinations such as Coimbatore, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangalore, and Mumbai. This development is anticipated to fortify the railways' position against competition from bus services along the Bengaluru route.