Duronto / Turant

LOL nothing of that sort. Drivers have fixed links. Its not that today the train might stop at a particular station and next day it might not.

Entraining at Duronto is not possible because if you have booked the ticket from origin to destination and the TTE (Traveling ticket examiner) doesnt find you on your seat you are considered as no show and your ticket is cancelled and the seat can be alloted to another passenger.

In normal train where the seat quota is not there. Passengers often book tickets from end to end and change their boarding point but the same is not possible in duronto trains as these are end to end

One clarification.....Durontos are fastest in terms of time....and not speed. NDLS-Bhopal Shatabdi still rules here with an MPS of 150 km/hr...while Durontos did have an MPS of 130 km/hr....For example, Sealdah Duronto has the link of WAP-7 locomotive whose attainable top speed is 130 km/hr and it comes with old ICF coaches (probably repainted old Rajdhani/Garib Rath rake), which are fit for 130 km/hr operations only. It is only due very low stopping time (except technical stops to change LP/guards), it gains time compared aganist Rajdhanis. And another thing, the much hyped Economy 3 AC will be phased out from Durontos by time...and will remain only in Garib Raths.

Non-AC Durontos will never attain speeds more than 120 km/hr as it goes aganist the safety norms with open windows.

Perhaps the technical halts will keep changing with no fixed schedule - to deliberately fool passengers who want to detrain enroute ?

No.. The techinical halts also have been announced and also not all stations does have this facility. Normally, it is done with the train entering another railway zone ....with that particular zones LP/guard/TTE take charge of the train. While long distance travelling, you can notice this with the change of the TTEs coming to check tickets in the compartment but with the same reservation list, handed over to them by the previous TTE. For instance, ER gaurd/LP will take the Duronto upto Dhanbad from where they will get down and the next set will take charge.

Here is some news regarding this: Sealdah Duronto will run with new LHB coaches from December 13, 2009.....and from the same day...the AC3-Economy Class will be discontinued.

That's good news, Bhas.

From my understanding, 3EAC differs from 3AC only in the side berths. Now, there is a massive difference in availability between these 2 classes. Wouldn't it be handy if 3AC is massively WL while 3EAC is available. If you zero in on the inside berths, wouldn't that be handy?

The side berths are uncomfortable in those 3AC-Eco class. You can see them....as the 3AC get waitlisted but 3AC-Eco is available. Passengers do not prefer them even for lower fare. The side middle berths have been abolished ...mainly due to this reason - passenger discomfort......resulting into negative feedback from passengers.

Yes.....and moreover...LHB coaches are fit for high-speed operations...normally they get a fitness certificate for 160 km/hr operations. But new locomotives (WAP-5 class) and signalling has to be introdued for higher speeds than 130 km/hr in the Howrah-Delhi section. I heard that Railways have plans to increase the MPS in the Kanpur-New Delhi section upto 150 km/hr. Lets see.....

.....alerady the two Kolkata Rajdhani's have got LHB rakes and also the Patna Raj have got it......I hear that Bhubaneshwar Raj was set to get this LHB rake but somehow it has been alloted to SDAH-NDLS Duronto (courtsy railway minister, probably)

Dada The first probable contender to go for 130+ kmph operation would be the LKO Shatabdi. Explore the RDSO website and you will find the speed test certificate for 140KMPH operation for the train from NDLS-CNB sector already in place.

Besides getting a WAP-5 is not a big thing. Its just that the links have to be shuffled a bit. There are lots of trains on NDLS-ALD sector being hauled by WAP-5,s.

Sealdah rajdhani and Duronto are both running on GZB links and hence get a combo of WAP-7/WAP-5 depending upon the links and availability of loco at the NDLS Trip shed

Howrah Rajdhani is on a GMO link which needs to be shifted to GZB but the same can be done whenever the speed up is planned.

2422/2421 BBS rajdhani runs on LHB only

Are all rakes of BBS Raj have LHB coaches? Are you sure?

WAP-5 class will be needed for high-speed operations as WAP-7 can attain 130 km/hr only and WAP-4 at 140 km/hr. However, two WAP-5 mued together might be necessary to travel at 150 km/hr for larger rakes like HWH Raj. However, 140 km/hr with 24 coaches can be done with WAP-5.

There are a couple of BBS rajdhani,s operating from NDLS to BBS

2422/2421 which i believe is a Biweekly affair is the one which runs on LHB Rake.

WAP-7 has been cleared for 140KMPh ops a single WAP-5 is capable of doing 150KMPH its just that accelration would be a bit slow although its not a problem as these trains easily haul Prayagraj/Gorakdham/Shivganga with ease

##The average speed of 2001/2002 (**701Kms.) (**not 2001A/2002A) is 89.48Kmph!!!

##The average speed of 2259/2260 (**1454Kms.) is 89.02Kmph!!!

##I personally feel SDAH-NDLS Duronto should be commended, but not the Shatabdi, given the distance travelled and the average speed attained.:-)

[QUOTE=Bhaswaran;877925]The side berths are uncomfortable in those 3AC-Eco class.QUOTE]

##It is understood that GR coaches have been used as 3E Coaches in Duronto. In any case, the authorities have decided to withdraw 3E Coaches from Durontos.

##Even here, the authorities have faulted while fixing the Fare for 3E. Had the difference between 3E and 3A "attractive" enough, perhaps, they would have survived.

Dear Bhaswaran,

##For your ready reference:-
----
2259 SDAH DURONTO EX 16-12-2009 SEALDAH NEW DELHI
Train Type RAJDHANI Distance (kms) 1454
All units are in Rupees(Rs.)
Class -- 3A Class -- 3E
Base Fare 1390 1335
Reservation Charges 0 0
Superfast Charges 0 0
Other Charges 0 0
Total Amount 1390 1335
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