Railway conducts trial for high-speed Talgo trains

New Delhi, May 29 (IANS) Indian Railways on Sunday conducted the first ever trial run for high-speed Talgo trains of Spain on the Bareilly-to-Moradabad stretch in Uttar Pradesh.

"The test train consisted of one locomotive fit for 180 kmph, along with one VIP coach, one first-class coach, one cafeteria coach and four second-class coaches," a statement from the ministry said.

The second trial run will be conducted on the Palwal-to-Mathura section of the North-Central Railway.

The trial run will be conducted in a series of phases to test the riding, safety and and stability of Talgo trains, a railway official told IANS.

After the successful completion of this phase, timing trial of the much-awaited high-speed train will be conducted.

The trials will be conducted with empty coaches and later with sand bags filling the passenger sitting spaces. The speed of the train during the trial run will vary from 130 kmph to 180 kmph.

Talgo is a Madrid-based Spanish leading manufacturer of semi-high speed (160-250 kmph) and high-speed (350 kmph) passenger trains, which are energy-efficient.

Last month, the Indian Railways flagged off country’s first semi-high speed train — Gatimaan Express between Delhi and Agra which can run at a maximum speed of 160 kmph.