Title - Train drivers are now allowed to hit top permitted speed

In a new order issued, Railway Ministry has asked loco pilots to hit top permissible speed if train is running late so that lost time can be made up. This new directive will replace order issued in year 2000 that mentions that even if trains are on time, they are supposed to run at maximum permissible speed (MPS), subjected to speed restrictions.

However, it was found that loco drivers rarely hit top speed due to fear of being detected overspeeding. Overspeeding is a punishable offence in railways. In the new time table to be released on August 15, trains having an MPS of 110 kmph will be showed having a normal prescribed speed (booked speed) of 105 kmph and those with 120 kmph MPS will have 115 kmph.

With 30 percent trains running late this year, railway has asked drivers to run at the booked speed and to hit MPS if train is late. 

"While we want our trains to run at their maximum limit, drivers have the tendency to run them much slower so as to not get penalised for overspeeding, which is going over the MPS," a serving loco pilot said.