Metro rail to pick up speed of 37km on average

The metro rail is expected to run at an average speed of 37-kilometre per hour - much lower than the train's capacity of 100-km per hour.
The service is designed with the limited speed due to frequent stations, curves and vertical lines of the system, known as mass rapid transit (MRT), being implemented in the capital, sources said.
The consultants working under the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project have recently completed the train operation plan of the MRT line-6, setting the average speed limit, they said.
The average speed limit was calculated considering the waiting times, speed limits of all sections, brakes and acceleration times etc.
The slowest speed at 20-km per hour will be from Sangsad Bhaban point to Karwan Bazar, considering Farmgate as a congested area and a ramp of Dhaka Elevated Expressway (DEE) touching close to the area, said a source.
The MRT line-6 would limit the speed in Farmgate area to make the journey safe.
The line-6, to be the first metro system in the city, has been facing various challenges to make the project viable.
Though the consultants had first recommended in 2011 to cross the Farmgate area through Bijoy Sarani to avoid the curved line, the design has to be changed for not getting clearance from the Air Force.
It was finally shifted to Khamar Bari from Rokeya Sarani, making two frequent curved lines.
It also faced another obstruction as two ramps of the DEE had to adjust with the MRT line in the congested Farmgate area.
Sources said though MRT-6 has few more curve lines, those were not as challenging as Farmgate area.
The curved line was designed for Doel Chattar and High Court area with a speed-limit of 50-km per hour.
However, official sources said, the average speed limit of the MRT line-6 has been designed with international standard as maximum speed limit of the fastest train cannot be maintained in unique situation.
"Being an urban and semi-commuter service, MRT cannot maintain highest speed due to touching different areas," said an official.
He, however, said the 100-km speed of the MRT line-6 could be designed from the starting point at Uttara to Pallabi due to more free space and less development in the northern part of the city.
As per the train operation plan, the MRT will run in every five minutes through the system having a capacity of three-minute frequency. Each of the trains will have the capacity to carry 1800 passengers in one direction.
smunima@yahoo