MUMBAI: The Railways will try to speed up the third Rajdhani between CSMT and Hazrat Nizamuddin by adopting push-and-pull technology, in which two engines are deployed, one at the front and the other at the rear.This Rajdhani, flagged off by Union railway minister Piyush Goyal at CSMT on Saturday, will take around 19 hours to cover over 1,535km. The Mumbai Central-New Delhi Rajdhani takes 15 hours, 50 minutes as it uses a shorter route, via Gujarat and Rajasthan, spanning 1,384km.Goyal said that push-and-pull technology was being considered so that the train can cover the distance in around 16 hours. This technique has been successfully tried out with goods trains, and is also used in the ghat section, where the gradient is steep.Though an engine will be attached at the rear, its operations will be carried out by the loco pilot in the front. The trials, apart from looking at speed, will help ascertain if technical upgrades are needed so that there is perfect synchronisation between both locomotives in terms of speed and braking.Engines at the rear and front are expected to ensure faster acceleration and deceleration, besides powerful braking and a reduction in jerks. Another major advantage in having an engine at the rear is it will ensure the train can be pulled out of the station quickly. This means the platform will not be occupied for a long time.Meanwhile, monumental high-mast flags, each around 100 feet tall, were unveiled at CSMT, Mumbai Central and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, as per a decision in November 2018 to project “symbols of nationalism”. A total of 75 stations (category A-1) all over the country were selected for this initiative, including seven in Mumbai, besides the termini.The Pen-Roha electrified section in Raigad was inaugurated, besides two escalators at Panvel, and lifts at Bandra Terminus, Andheri and Borivli, and foot over-bridges at Prabhadevi, Belapur, Matunga Road, Jogeshwari, Andheri and Borivli. Foundation stones for two road over-bridges, near Juichandra station and CSTM were also laid. Other important amenities dedicated include 40 ATVMs on the suburban section, improvement of lux levels at Dadar, LTT, Thane and Kalyan, green stations at Roha, Pen and Apta, improvement of illumination at stations and new LED-based indicators at Ghatkopar.

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