The classic New Delhi - Howrah (Kolkata) (via Grand Chord) and New Delhi Mumbai (via Kota) routes have been selected for upgrade for general 160kph operation. Indian Railways standards require fencing of tracks for operation at 160kph (100mph). They discovered that they have zillions of discarded life expired concrete ties lying around that are hard to recycle, but can be used as is to build border fences,
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Once cleared for 160kph operations in about two years, the overnight premium expresses between New Delhi and these two cities, distance in each cases a bit over 900miles (think New York - Chicago-like) will be scheduled to operate in 12 hours with all existing stops. They will typically depart and arrive at 7pm and 7am respectively in both directions, with on board dinner and breakfast service at your seat.
In order to improve train acceleration/deceleration performance, the premium trains have already started operating with two 6,200HP WAP7HS 25kV 50Hz AC drive locomotives popularly known as White Stallions because of their all white livery, top and tail for 22 car trains. For now it is just helping them with better time keeping.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could do such meaningful incremental improvement in US in addition to grand extremely expensive plans for "real high speed" etc.?

Shri Rajiv Chaudhry, General Manager, NCR reviews speed raising works on New Delhi-Howrah and New Delhi-Mumbai routes to 160 Kmph - Rail Analysis India
Share with your networkTweetNorth Central railway has started constructing boundary walls utilizing released PSC sleepers along the track. North Central Railway HQ office has issued a drawing for construction of Boundary wall along Railway track [...]

Once cleared for 160kph operations in about two years, the overnight premium expresses between New Delhi and these two cities, distance in each cases a bit over 900miles (think New York - Chicago-like) will be scheduled to operate in 12 hours with all existing stops. They will typically depart and arrive at 7pm and 7am respectively in both directions, with on board dinner and breakfast service at your seat.
In order to improve train acceleration/deceleration performance, the premium trains have already started operating with two 6,200HP WAP7HS 25kV 50Hz AC drive locomotives popularly known as White Stallions because of their all white livery, top and tail for 22 car trains. For now it is just helping them with better time keeping.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could do such meaningful incremental improvement in US in addition to grand extremely expensive plans for "real high speed" etc.?
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