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The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is making robust progress towards introducing electric locomotive-powered trains in Tripura, with officials confirming intensified trial runs on the newly electrified routes. This significant upgrade promises to enhance rail connectivity for the northeastern state. Recently, a trial run of a passenger train with an electric locomotive was successfully conducted between Agartala railway station and Arunachal Junction railway station in Cachar district, Southern Assam. An NFR official stated that such trial runs are mandatory before the regular operation of electric passenger trains, indicating that a few more trials are likely to be conducted. The official also highlighted the successful maiden goods train trial run with an electric locomotive on February 6, which took place between Southern Assams Badarpur station and Tripuras Jirania station, located 15 km north of Agartala railway station. According to NFR, essential infrastructural works, including electrification, have recently been completed in both Southern Assam and Tripura. After the successful operation of some more passenger and goods trains with electric locomotives, the regular running of passenger trains with electric locomotives would start on the route. We are frantically trying to start running passenger trains with electric locomotives at the earliest, the official remarked, underscoring the urgency to operationalize these services. Currently, Tripura enjoys rail connectivity with major Indian cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Firozpur, and Patna via several express trains, all of which are presently powered by diesel engines. A ?46 crore electrification project, initiated in 2022, is designed to seamlessly integrate Tripura with the national railway grid through electric trains. The Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd (TSECL) is slated to supply power to the railways electric transmission lines. With the necessary electric railway infrastructure nearing completion, NFR officials anticipate that the iconic Vande Bharat Express trains will be extended up to Assams Silchar and Agartala within the next few months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off Assams first Vande Bharat Express on May 29, 2023, connecting Guwahati with New Jalpaiguri (West Bengal), which has reduced travel time on that route by an hour. The Guwahati-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express operates six days a week. The NFR zone covers the northeastern states, seven districts of West Bengal, and five districts of north Bihar. |
