Page 138 - Technology Roadmap Transportation

TECHNOLOGY VISION 2035

Recently the Indian Railways reached the 2.1 HIGH SPEED PASSENGER OPERATION
maximum operating speed of 160 km/h from the According to UIC, “High speed rail is not only a
earlier maximum speed of 140 km/h. However, technical subject, but encompasses a complex
the average speed is 100 km/h ,which is quite reality involving various technical aspects such as
less due to mixed passenger and freight traffic on infrastructure, rolling stock and operations and
same tracks. Indian Railways is now contemplating cross-sector issues such as financial, commercial,
adopting high-speed operation by making managerial and training aspects”[9]. In the Indian
dedicated high-speed corridors. The speed of context, speeds of above 200 km/h can be
operation is expected to increase further up to considered under high speed operation, as it
250-350 km/h[8]. involves various special factors and procedures
mentioned above.
From the above, it is clear that Indian railways
is far behind many developed railways, however, In railways, the iron wheel translates the rotary
this can be overcome through expanding motion into linear motion of the train through
the capacities of the railways as well through rail-wheel friction. Till early 1980s, it was believed
the adaptation and development of new and that the maximum speed that could be achieved
advanced technologies . through rail-wheel friction is 200 to 250 km/h. In
FIG 2.1: COUNTRY-WISE COMPARISON OF THE OPERATION SPEEDS

JAPAN Bullet maglev train
630
GERMANY TR-09 (Maglev)
450 500
CHINA CRH380AL
417 487.3
JAPAN Shinkansen
320 443

CHINA Shanghai Maglev
430
FRANCE TGV-R
320 380
ITALY AGV Italo
360
SOUTH KOREA KTX-Sancheon
305 352.40
SPAIN AVE Talgo-350

350
TAIWAN THSR 700T
300 335.50
GERMANY ICE
300

ITALY ETR500
300
BELGIUM HSL 1 Maximum speed in
revenue service (km/h)
300
UK Eurostar Test speed (km/h)
300

136 RAILWAYS