Page 133 - Technology Roadmap Transportation

TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP: TRANSPORTATION

1.0
INTRODUCTION

Railways is one of the key modes of transport in is the fourth largest railway network under single
achieving the targets set under the prerogative on management. With the rail network of 66,030 km
‘Safe and Speedy Mobility’ in the Technology Vision and a total of about 22000 trains in operation
2035 document , brought out by TIFAC which which includes nearly 13000 passenger trains and
rd
was released on 3 Jan, 2016 by Hon’ble PM about 9000 freight trains every day, Indian railways
Shri. Narendra Modi in the 103 Indian Science transports 3 million tonnes of freight traffic and 23
rd
Congress at Mysore. It states that “no place will be million passengers everyday[2]. It is noteworthy
more than three hours away from a district head that since independence, India has added just
quarters, five hours from the state capital and eight 12,000 kilometres to its nationwide network. Train
hours from the national capital.” speeds haven’t increased much during this period.
For instance, in the early 1950s, steam locomotive
1.1 INDIAN RAILWAYS hauled trains had speed of 80-100 km/h, and today
Railways being one of the well structured, maximum commercial speed stands at 140 km/h,
connected, fuel efficient and rapid transportation which is possible only in short stretches of track.
systems and also having less GHG emission Average speed of mail/express trains stand at
potential, ranks first amongst the four modes 50.6 km/h and that of ordinary passenger trains at
of transport in India. Railways not only have the 36 km/h, whereas, average speed of goods train in
potential to generate high capacity with less land, broad gauge tracks remains at 25.9 km/h. Till now,
it can also operate at relatively less cost. Hence, just around 33% of the total Route Kilometres
railways have turned out to be an attractive (RKM) only has been electrified.
alternative to road transport. It acts as a catalyst
to economic and social development. It consumes Over the years, many countries have made
about 1/6 of the energy required for transport remarkable progress in rail technology, enabling
th
for carrying one tonne of freight traffic over a faster and safer movements. For instance, the
th
distance of one kilometre and 1/30 energy as Chinese rail system too was comparable with
compared to air transport. In case of passenger Indian Railways till the last decade, but has made
traffic, it consumes 1/50 to 1/15 of energy per a positive technological impact in the recent past.
th
th
car, depending upon the size of car[1]. Indian Railways is poised to catch up with the lost
time and aim at 2035.
First introduced in India in 1853, Indian Railways

13000 9000
passenger trains RAIL NETWORK freight trains
(in operation everyday) 66,030 km (in operation everyday)
INDIAN RAILWAYS
23 million TRAINS IN OPERATION 3 million tonnes
passengers 22000 freight
(everyday transportation) (everyday transportation)
(2016)

RAILWAYS 131

PRESENT SCENARIO: AVERAGE SPEED OF DIFFERENT KIND OF TRAINS
MAIL/EXPRESS TRAINS 50.6 KM/H 140 KM/H
PASSENGER TRAINS 36 KM/H

GOODS TRAINS 25.9 KM/H

PRESENT SCENARIO
MAIL/EXPRESS TRAINS
Average speed 50.6 KM/H Max. commercial speed for short stretch 140 KM/H
PASSENGER TRAINS
Average speed 36 KM/H
GOODS TRAINS
Average speed 25.9 KM/H