Here's some eexciting news for travellers. Get ready for a faster Pune-Mumbai train journey as the travel time is set to decrease by 20-30 minutes. Central Railway (CR) is actively surveying and planning a new, more streamlined rail route with gentler gradients for the existing Pune-Mumbai connection.
The survey, which began five months ago, aims to uncover alternative routes to decrease the steepness of the current alignment through the ghat section. The feasibility report will pinpoint the optimal alignment, considering cost and terrain. A senior CR official has confirmed that the proposed new tracks will be laid to the east of the existing tracks, bypassing Lonavala.
The current steep gradient of the alignment between Mumbai and Pune in the ghat section is 1.37, and the project aims to reduce this gradient to 1.100. “The steep gradient of the existing alignment between Mumbai and Pune in the Ghat section is 1.37. The project aims to reduce the gradient to 1.100,” said Swapnil Neela, Chief Public Relations Officer, at Central Railway. The decreased gradient will significantly reduce the requirement for banker locomotives when navigating trains through the ghat's steep inclines. However, they might still be needed for goods/freight trains, said Neela.
Central Railway has also revealed plans to introduce a minimum of 10 additional services. Once the Kalyan yard work is finished and the new platforms at Panvel and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) are operational, Central Railway can expand the number of trains by 10. This development will significantly enhance the connectivity between the two cities, providing more options for commuters and travellers.
Pune is a popular weekend getaway for Mumbai folks, and vice versa. Often called the Oxford of the East, the dynamic city that combines tradition and progress. Travellers are attracted by the many historic landmarks, bustling markets, cafes, pubs, and some excellent treks.