What Is A Tilting Train And Why India's Getting 100 Of Them
India will get its first tilting train in the next two-three years, according to a senior official of Indian Railways. The technology enables trains to maneuver curves at increased speed, that too on regular tracks, just like a motorcycle on a winding road. Vande Bharat trains, manufactured in India, will be equipped with the technology by 2025 that will improve their speed. Such trains are now operational in 11 countries - Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland, Russia, the Czech Republic, the UK, Switzerland, China, Germany and Romania.
"We will have tilting trains in the country. We will tie up with a technology partner for this. We will have this technology in 100 Vande Bharat trains over the next two to three years," news agency PTI quoted the Railways official as saying on Friday.
The Indian Railways has explored various options in the past regarding tilting trains, but has never finalised any detail. It also had discussions with Spanish manufacturer Talgo as well as the Switzerland government, PTI added.
How does a tilting train work?
When a train rounds a curve at speed, objects (and people) inside experience centrifugal force, which pushes them outwards.
The effect can cause luggage inside to slide, seated passengers to feel squashed and standing passengers to lose balance. These trains are designed to counteract the effect by tilting the carriages towards the inside of the curve, thus compensating the g-force.
According to Sweden-based KTH Engineering Sciences, there can be various mechanisms to neutralize the tilt force and achieve a balance. It further explains how motion sickness can be essentially eliminated by adjusting the timing of when the cars tilt.
What Is A Tilting Train And Why India's Getting 100 Of Them
Tilting trains are operational in 11 countries and an Indian Railways official said that Vande Bharat trains will also be equipped with this technology soon.www.ndtv.com
Designed For 180 Kmph, Vande Bharat Trains Running At Average Speed Of 83 Kmph: RTI Reply
Vande Bharat Express, which is India's first semi-high speed train has been running at an average speed of much lower than 100 kilometre per hour (kmph)swarajyamag.com
Bengaluru To Manufacture India's First High-Speed Train, Designed For 280 Kmph for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Corridor
By V Bhagya Subhashini
Sep 20, 2024, 12:07 PM | Updated 12:15 PM IST
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Due to high prices quoted by Japanese firms, the Indian government opted to manufacture these high-speed trains domestically.
Bengaluru, known for its technological advancements, is poised to make history by manufacturing India’s first high-speed train. On 5 September 2024, the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) issued a tender to build two state-of-the-art high-speed chair-car trains, designed to reach a top speed of 280 km/h and operate at 250 km/h.
After the tender closed on 19 September, BEML (formerly Bharat Earth Movers Limited) in collaboration with Medha Servo Drives, emerged as the sole bidder, setting the stage for India's leap into the high-speed rail era.
These trains will be part of the ambitious 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor, estimated to cost Rs 1.1 lakh crore.
Initially, the corridor was planned to feature Japanese Shinkansen E5 trains, capable of reaching up to 350 km/h. However, due to the high prices quoted by Japanese firms, the Indian government opted to manufacture these high-speed trains domestically.
An official from the railway ministry revealed that BEML, known for its car body manufacturing expertise, will partner with Medha Servo Drives, which has a proven track record in propulsion systems, including the Vande Bharat trains.
“Medha’s propulsion system, which powers the Vande Bharat trains running at 160 km/h, will now be enhanced to achieve 250 km/h,” said the official. The BEML-Medha consortium plans to consult a European design firm to ensure the new trains meet global standards.
The first train, with a design speed of 280 km/h and an operational speed of 250 km/h, is expected to roll out by December 2026. Trials will begin on the Surat-Bilimora section of the MAHSR corridor.
The train will consist of seven cars, featuring a standard 3+2 seating arrangement and one executive car with a 2+2 configuration, offering a seating capacity of approximately 174 passengers. The number of cars could increase to 12 or even 16, depending on future demand.
Medha will handle the development of the Train Control and Management System (TCMS) and propulsion systems from its Hyderabad facility, while BEML will oversee the final assembly in Bengaluru.
“After successful trials, we anticipate more orders for additional trainsets, not only for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route but also for other high-speed corridors like Delhi-Varanasi, Mumbai-Hyderabad, and Bengaluru-Chennai,” the official added, reports Moneycontrol.
Targeting Export Markets
These trains are being built for standard gauge tracks, with the Indian government eyeing export markets in Southeast Asia and Africa.
BEML and Medha's collaboration on this project is a significant step towards enhancing India's capability to build high-speed rail infrastructure, potentially paving the way for more domestic and international orders.
The current tender, estimated to be valued between Rs 200-250 crore per train, is expected to be finalised within a week. Though the initial order is small, BEML is confident of completing the manufacturing within 2.5 years, setting a new benchmark for India’s railway sector.
This domestic development of high-speed trains could mark a turning point in India's rail history, reducing dependency on foreign suppliers and showcasing India’s growing technological prowess in high-speed rail manufacturing.
https://swarajyamag.com/infrastruct...or-280-kmph-for-the-mumbai-ahmedabad-corridor
This is probably the most rational step that has ever taken by Railways. They didn't go for extreme ends of either importing full trainsets or mindlessly attempting HSR from get go. Lets say we import Shinkansen completely, we anyhow need to start somehow in future regarding HSR right? Japanese don't transfer ToT and if there is anything in our part, it would be screwdrivergiri.Disgusting step by babus and politicians, after spending tens of thousands of crores on the project, they are handicapping the train for saving few tens of crores. From World class Shinkasen at 350 KMPH to BEML at 250 KMPH. Even 250 speed is ambitious, most probably will cap at 200 and then give excuses that it is better for safety etc
Something wrong with the report. I dont think they can somehow run this imaginary tainsets on HSR line. Lets wait for more details.Disgusting step by babus and politicians, after spending tens of thousands of crores on the project, they are handicapping the train for saving few tens of crores. From World class Shinkasen at 350 KMPH to BEML at 250 KMPH. Even 250 speed is ambitious, most probably will cap at 200 and then give excuses that it is better for safety etc
No, it's not. This project is worth $20+ billion and 80% of it is funded by JICA as agreed a decade ago. The buzzwords like Atmanirbhar and MII do not apply on the trainsets. No Indian company is competent enough to deliver anything close to Shinkansen. After all the investment, redoing trainsets means a decade more of waiting and billions more in costs due to delays. All this for what?.This is probably the most rational step that has ever taken by Railways. They didn't go for extreme ends of either importing full trainsets or mindlessly attempting HSR from get go. Lets say we import Shinkansen completely, we anyhow need to start somehow in future regarding HSR right? Japanese don't transfer ToT and if there is anything in our part, it would be screwdrivergiri.
On One hand people cry if Gormint imports something fully and on other hand the same bunch cry if they try Atmanirbhar Bharat.
The WAP5 imported in 1990s were fit for 220kmph operations.Disgusting step by babus and politicians, after spending tens of thousands of crores on the project, they are handicapping the train for saving few tens of crores. From World class Shinkasen at 350 KMPH to BEML at 250 KMPH. Even 250 speed is ambitious, most probably will cap at 200 and then give excuses that it is better for safety etc
Well said. Pick a lane and stick to it. Shinkansen trains are a costly affair and the way I see it, it was a rational call. Create a 300 kph trainset and try to deploy it.This is probably the most rational step that has ever taken by Railways. They didn't go for extreme ends of either importing full trainsets or mindlessly attempting HSR from get go. Lets say we import Shinkansen completely, we anyhow need to start somehow in future regarding HSR right? Japanese don't transfer ToT and if there is anything in our part, it would be screwdrivergiri.
On One hand people cry if Gormint imports something fully and on other hand the same bunch cry if they try Atmanirbhar Bharat.
The problem with Indian Railways is never about Body Material or Aerodynamic Shape or Fencing or Track conditions but its DAMN track shape. Most of them are frequently curved which means Trains can't use their full potential. Ofcourse curves are elsewhere in HSR countries but they are like 2 or 3 per 100km or such and gentle along radius of curvature which enables high speed while turning unlike here.Rather than going for costly bullet train, We should work on development of local semi high speed trains and track improvement and fencing. This will be a very cost effective option. If we improve track and do fencing, we can increase the speed of our other trains as well. With Aerodynamic shaping and coaches built from light material, lots of energy can be saved. We can run double Deckers to accommodate more passengers and make travel cost effective.
We should make one dedicated research institute for railway like DRDO. It can be RRDO with some really smart engineers.