Vadodara:Talgo’s much awaited first of three trial runs on the Delhi to Mumbai stretch has been adversely hit by heavy rainfall and track washout in South Gujarat.

According to the Railway Ministry, the train’s trial run has otherwise been a success.

In various tweets the Railway Ministry said: A section of railway track between Vapi-Bhilad on Delhi-Mumbai route washed out due to heavy rainfall, and therefore train services are affected, track has been restored at 10 Km per hour speed. Due to track wash out, Talgo train trial journey has been affected: Upto Ratlam Talgo was running before time. Talgo train Trail run on Delhi-Mumbai route was great success, it recorded 50 minutes gain from the scheduled run upto Ratlam. Further three more trials of Talgo train will be carried out between Delhi to Mumbai in the coming days. Talgo train completed its maiden trial between Delhi and Mumbai successfully. It took 2 hours less between Delhi and Surat compared to Rajdhani Express. However due to heavy water logging on tracks in Vapi – Bhilad section of South Gujarat, Talgo train had to follow speed restrictions due to safety reasons. Average running speed of Talgo train between Delhi and Surat was 106.52 km per hour in comparison to Rajdhani Express which runs at speed of 89.76 km per hour.

The train had departed from Delhi at 19:55 hours on Monday evening, for the first leg of its final phase trials on the Delhi to Mumbai route. Talgo has claimed that its coaches can help clock higher speeds on existing Indian tracks and this it says can help complete a train journey between the two metros in less than 12 hours. The nine-coach train has been undergoing extensive trials on Indian tracks and is being tested on various parameters such as safety, stability, brake system and speed.

Meanwhile local people were spotted seeing Talgo train at Vadodara and Surat railway stations with great interest. Many of them were clicking selfie photographs with Talgo train.

Two more trial runs of Talgo train on Mumbai – Surat – Vadodara – Delhi route are scheduled to take place on 5th and 7th August.

Semi Speed Talgo train will reach #Mumbai shortly. Trial run of 130 km/hr successfully done between #Delhi n Surat. pic.twitter.com/r9uar5NOtd

— Vivek Gupta IBN 7 (@imvivekgupta) August 2, 2016