Beginning 7 September, final trial of the third Vande Bharat train would be conducted on Mumbai-Ahmedabad route for two days.

Known as the actual timetable trial, the third rake of Vande Bharat filled with sand bags would be put on trial run on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad section.

This will be followed by the handover of the train to Chief Commissioner Railway Safety (CCRS) for getting the safety clearance, a mandatory requirement for commercial operation of any new rolling stock.

After CCRS clearance, the Railway Board is expected to give the green signal for the launch of new semi-high speed train operation on Mumbai-Ahmedabad route.

Since the train would be pressed into service on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad section, the route trial on 7 and 8 September is crucial for the train operation, said a senior Railway Ministry official.

After coming out of the Chennai ICF in the second week of August, Vande Bharat train has gone though nearly a month long oscillation and braking trials in different routes.

It began with the low speed trial at 115 kmph conducted in Sahnewal-New Morinda main line section during 19 and 22 August at speeds of 90 kmph, 105 kmph and 115 kmph.

The oscillation trial was conducted in both inflated and deflated conditions at different speeds.

High speed trial upto 180 kmph was conducted in Kota-Sawai Madhopur section between 25 and 28 August.

Oscillation trials were conducted at speeds of 120, 135, 150, 160, 170, 175 and 180 Kmph in both loaded and empty conditions.

Braking trials were carried out on 29 and 31 August for full service brake application and emergency application.

Now the final trial would be conducted on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad section and after this exercise there would be no further trial, said the official.

The fourth rake is expected to be rolled out from ICF in October this year.

However, the fourth rake would not be required to go through trials or CCRS clearances and it would be inducted in the fleet directly.

Mumbai-Ahmedabad Section

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