Indian Railways: Tamil Nadu Express' Passenger Tickets Likely To See Hike In Prices As Rakes To Be Hauled By Push-Pull System Soon
ARUN KUMAR DAS
Thursday, November 2, 2023 10:10 am IST

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A Push-Pull loco at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, West Bengal.
A Push-Pull loco at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, West Bengal.
Aiming at providing better and faster service to passengers, Indian Railways is firming up plans to replace the Delhi-Chennai Tamil Nadu Express with push-pull loco system, with a slightly higher fare.

While the fare structure is not finalised yet, it is expected to be ranging between 10 per cent and 20 per cent higher than the existing fare.

In a push–pull train, two locomotives at both ends of a train are used at the same time making the journey faster, being controlled by one driver.

The existing rake of Tamil Nadu Express will be replaced with push-pull system with 22 AC and non-AC coaches. All these coaches will be equipped with modern facilities to provide comforts and better riding experience to passengers.

Hauled by the push-pull locos, the 31 hours and 10 minute journey between New Delhi and Chennai is expected to be reduced by nearly two hours.

However, the fare of the popular south-bound train will be revised upward as the input cost of the push-pull train is more than the existing rake.

The fare structure for the push-pull service is being worked out and it will be finalised shortly as the Railways is getting ready to launch two push-pull trains for Patna and Mumbai this month.

Currently, trial runs are being carried out of these two trains.

The trains move faster in the push-pull method and detention time at stations is reduced, improving turnaround time. Since both locomotives will be of 5,500 HP capacity each, the 22-coach train is expected to haul faster.

The push-pull trains will have modern facilities like jerk-free ride, CCTV surveillance system, passenger information system, electronic destination board, mobile charging point at each seat, and divyang-friendly toilet with pressurised flushing system, among others.

The idea behind the push-pull system is to provide good travel experience and a faster mode of service with lesser cost to common passengers.

The push-pull trains are expected to provide better passenger amenities and ensure higher speed like the Vande Bharat trains.

While locos are being manufactured at the Chittaranjan Locomotive Works in West Bengal, at an estimated cost of Rs 28 crore each, the modern LHB coaches are being manufactured at the Integrated Coach Factory Chennai.

The Tamil Nadu pull-push train will be having both AC and non-AC coaches for common passengers, fulfilling the demand for a train with upgraded amenities and speed like Vande Bharat trains for common passengers.

The push-pull train, with 22 coaches, is estimated to cost nearly Rs 60 crore.