(1) In consonance with the emphasis being laid by the Rly Ministry on increasing the speed of passenger trains as well as freight trains, "mission raftar" has been launched.
2) Main targets of mission rafter are increasing speed of freight trains from 24-25 kmph to 50kmph (75kmph on DFCs) and to increase the avg speed of express trains from 50 kmph to 75kmph.
(3) A new direct called "Mobility Directorate" (MoD) has been constituted under the office of Railway Board, with an aim of improving the mobility (running & speed) of...
more... trains on IR network. and achieve targets of Mission Raftar.
(4) MoD is a cross functional directorate involving disciplines oftraffic, engineering, mechanical, electrical, S&T.
(5) MoD shall study, identify, monitor practical issues related to increase speed like:
---(5-a) Right powering of trains. i.e. Identifying of instances of using too less or too high loco power and suggesting rectification. HP:trailing load ratio of Freight and Passenger trains, is usually lower in most of passenger as well as freight trains of IR.
---(5-b) Assessment & increment of maximum permissible speed of the Permanent way structure.
---(5-c) Assessment and reduction/elimination of Temporary or permanent Speed restrictions on IR routes
---(5-d) Indentification & prioritization of IR sections/routes for operating faster trains.
---(5-e) Optimum time tabling to increase speeds
---(5-f) Study, devise methods and identify time slots to run time tabled freight trains
---(5-g) Debottlenecking of critical & supersaturated sections in order to facilitate higher train speeds.
---(5-h) Study and suggest for rolling stock speed potential enhancement, breakdown reduction,
---(5-i) Use of train sets (including) DEMU/MEMU having higher acceleration and reliability to improve the average speed especially of loco hauled freight trains.
---(5j) Monitoring the capacity augmentation projects under implementation like doubling/multiplying, new lines which are intended to act as alternative/ shorter route to saturated route(s)
---(5h)Study and identification of small and low cost measures to improve section capacity like installation of Intermediate Block Signals, Intermediate home signals etc