Rail Budget 2012: Dinesh Trivedi may announce high speed trains

NEW DELHI: High speed trains connecting the national capital to Jodhpur and Mumbai could be among the highlights of the Rail Budget 2012-13, which will be announced by Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi next week.

The 591-km-long Delhi-Jaipur-Ajmer-Jodhpur route is slated to be taken up for pre-feasibility study for introducing bullet trains, which run at a speed of 350 km per hour, and an announcement to this effect is likely to be made on March 14.

Trivedi, who appears to be keen on introducing high speed trains in the country, could also announce a proposal for induction of trains sets, which run at 200 km per hour, on the Delhi-Mumbai route.

Budget 2012 at ET: Budget 2012 | Union Budget | Rail Budget 2012 | Budget News

A train set consists of a high horse power electronic locomotive with about 10 modern coaches and is estimated to cost Rs 200 crore.

Upgrading of signalling and telecommunication system, essential for prevention of accidents in the high speed corridor, is also expected to be announced by Trivedi in his maiden Rail Budget.

Green initiatives are also likely to get a big boost this time as a proposal for manufacturing as many as 2,500 environmental-friendly toilets could be included in the budget.

The budget is likely to feature proposals for improving passenger amenities, including catering service at stations and trains.