Transformation of Indian Railways

India's over crowded trains are widely reported both in national and international media, railways are cheapest and as well as most costly mode of passenger transportation in India. Second class tickets cost less than a dollar for 100kms, whereas First class AC costs on par with airways. So by moving all riches from 19th century railways to new high speed corridor will help creating vacancies for poor, especially for middle class and lower middle class in travelling second class non AC boggies. 

Clearly we are using our railways to the maximum extent, however the major problem with our railways is that we far behind the rest of the world. The 19th century railways system have mechanical design issues such as wear and tear of rail tracks, material fatigue which reduces the life of tracks in case if we run all trains at average speed of 100kmph. So the only option we are left with is reducing traffic on conventional railways.

Air transport vs Trains We are currently having best domestic airports in India, but they do have a limit, our airports too are becoming crowded. Airplanes are thermodynamically inefficient compared to bullet trains, its because airplane should carry its fuel whereas trains extract energy from electric lines, this is really big deal, during take off, planes need tremendous amount energy to produce trust, all the fuel you carry adds much more weight, added to the inefficiencies, life cycles of the plane depends on number of times cabin is pressurized and fatigue of wings due to lift. So air travel not so much economic between cities like Mumbai and Ahmadabad on a long run.

Reachability and usage We can not have airports in all corners of city, wheeras we can have more than one stop for trains in same city, for instance planned high speed train between mumbai and ahemedabad, will have two stops in Greater Bombay, one in BKC and other will be in Thane, so a person who is working in Navi Mumbai need not go all the way to BKC for boarding train in the messy traffic. Multiple stops is an another advantage which bullet trains have over domestic airlines, a train which starts in mumbai will also stop in couple of busy business centres like Surat and Baroda, where it increases its user base. Bullet train provides more efficient travel between two busy cities and cities between them.

Economics and Benefits: JICA is providing soft loan of 15 Billion USD, at the interest rate on 0.1%, payback time is almost 50 years, if we analyze, by 2050 India's economy is expected to reach 40 trillion USD, so clearing debt is not a big deal. With inflation growing 10% every year, if India does not get bullet trains now, then when India is going to invest? and how much it is going to cost? The common misconception in mind of public is that regular railway track doubling projects are getting effected by bullet train construction, which is not true.

What people generally miss is the possible growth in Indian economy, more than 50000 crore INR will be invested in Indian markets, this will create new construction and logistic jobs, cement industry will boom. any mega projects will develop new companies, for example Reliance Jamnagar Refinery gave us a multi-competent company like L&T.

L&T after taking up Hyderabad Metro got contracts from Qatar for Doha metro. By this logic the days where Indians construct High Speed rail in US are not too far.

Clean enegry India's ambition to develop at least 50% of electricity from nuclear power plants is well known, recently with the help of Russia, 10 new nuclear power plants came into pipeline. Simultaneously India also trying to reduce oil imports by 10%. The big picture of India supports bullet trains which are greener than aviation.

If not now, then when are we stepping into 21st century?

So what new technology should be adopted by Indian railways?

India has several options

1.      Maglev i.e. L0 Series of Shinkasen

2.     Hyperloop (Still in conceptual stage)

3.     Synchronous motor traction trains developed by Shinkasen

4.     Synchronous motor traction trains developed by Talgo (Talgo AVRIL)

The high speed rail between Mumbai and Ahmadabad is undoubtedly going to be Shinkasen, however its still not clear whether it is going to be maglev.

Japan developed maglev for passengers but nor for freight and India needs rail for both freight and passenger transportation. So in this context how is maglev will fulfill the needs of India is an unanswered question.

What India needs to consider at this present moment is about modular super structure for railroad which will allow retrofitting so that it can upgrade from conventional tracks to maglev tracks.

Let me explain, Talgo is one of the major company which understands the potential in India, there is high possibility that talgo may start designing & manufacturing of wagons and rolling stock for Indian market in India. This is a bumper offer for Indians, this will improve employment opportunities and will develop the existing ecosystem. The only set back is, though Talgo is into High Speed Rails, they are not much interested in producing maglev. Since India is looking for connecting major trading hubs with maglev, Talgo can best act as a transition system for India.

The idea here is, constructing the structure with steel toppings, and design for loads of the maglev. for example if India is going to construct Hyderabad and Chennai with new high speed rail, it should construct the railway sleeper keeping in mind the future use of maglev over it, the structural design should withstand the load of of maglev but should be compatible to run Talgo Avril temporarily and also top hook up should be implacable with maglev components in future, this is possible with robust steel frame in and outside of the concrete.

Once the India is ready with maglev technology, it can replace talgo with maglev, and use the talgo in other parts of the country in between small towns

This method of transition will not only boost the local business but also fulfills the present needs.