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Can we run high speed trains?
J. EDEN ALEXANDER
High-speed trains are suitable for a densely populated country like India. They are defined as “trains that run at over 250 km/h on dedicated tracks, or over 200 km/h on upgraded conventional tracks,” with specialised rolling stock and a new set of operating practices. We have no such trains except the Rajdhani and Shatabdi Expresses, which run at 130-140 kmph. They do not qualify as high-speed trains. The other BG trains run at a maximum speed of 100-110 kmph.
Advantages
High-speed trains present many ecological benefits besides unparalleled safety, speed, convenience and dependability in travel. They are faster than road vehicles and are more fuel efficient, carrying more passengers with lower energy consumption per passenger kilometre.
They use less space for a double line track as compared to a three-lane high way. Operating under electric traction, they cause less environmental damage. They have certain advantages over airways too which include elimination of hold-ups on highways while reaching distant airports, detention at the time of checking in and out baggage, delay on security and bad weather, etc. Their safety record as seen from Japan and France is also encouraging, as they have had no fatalities on their high-speed routes.
High speed trains are trendy and economically feasible in many countries in Europe and Japan. Japan’s bullet train linking Tokyo and Osaka, introduced in 1964 as the world’s first high speed train at 200 kmph, runs at over 300 kmph today. The French TGV train holds the record of being the fastest at 574.8 kmph. The TGV trains run at 300 kmph at 4 minutes interval with a firm commitment to the schedule that no airline can challenge.
Elimination of constraints
The sections proposed for introduction of high-speed trains at 300kmph are Chennai-Coimbatore, Chennai-Bangalore and Chennai-Madurai in the south. A high speed train between Chennai and Coimbatore at 300 kmph should cover the distance of 496 km in about two hours, allowing time for three stoppages en route, acceleration, deceleration, speed restrictions, etc.
It will certainly be a pleasant experience to travel by a high speed train relaxing and enjoying every bit of the journey in comfortable push-back seats. But the biggest question is: will it work under Indian conditions?
Running of high speed trains would need expensive dedicated corridors with latest engineering, including elimination of constraints like level crossings, numerous stops and sharp curves so as to sustain higher speeds. It would also require the use of Train Protection and Warning System which will automatically apply the brakes if the driver fails to respond to a red signal.
Upgrading and utilising the existing conventional tracks (avoiding construction of high-speed corridors at a huge cost) can trigger major problems arising from the innumerable level crossings that are found in the section. For example, between Chennai and Coimbatore there are 215 level crossings today — 23 unmanned and 192 manned. Out of these 192, 145 are interlocked with (protected by) signals and 47 are non-interlocked.
All the unmanned and non-interlocked-manned level crossings may need closure. Fencing the track throughout against cattle and human trespass is indispensable.
Stiff competition from well-developed roadways and budget airways coupled with possible demand for numerous stops are likely to make them less attractive and strive for survival. Again, a large-scale investment of our limited resources on high-speed routes, neglecting remote areas in Bihar, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh, which are not connected by rail still, would deserve serious consideration.
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