Bangalore- Chennai High-speed train may be scrapped

[Agent_47]

Your dream of zipping to Mysuru or Chennai on a speeding train isn't likely to happen now. Reason: the much hyped high speed rail project connecting Bengaluru to Chennai and Mysuru is set to be grounded.Sources in the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), New Delhi, told TOI that the project involves too many changes en route (Bengaluru-Mysore-Chennai) to convert the existing tracks to accommodate speeding trains. “A high-level delegation of China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co Ltd (CREEC), which did the track inspection of the 500 km corridor, has suggested straightening of over 100 curves with more than five degrees angle each. Also, this entails acquiring extra land, rehabilitating people and rebuilding bridges and level crossings at different points. This needs huge investment of multiple crores and time. If we want to build new tracks, it may cost more than Rs 200 crore per km. Hence, it may not be feasible to implement the project along the corridor,“ officials at RVNL connected with the project told TOI on Tuesday .
The Chinese delegation, which conducted the track inspection in November last year, found as many as 145 curves along the proposed Chennai-Bengaluru-Mysuru route, of which 135 are located between Bengaluru and Mysuru.

“Chinese experts have called for straightening of the curves. Only then can the existing train speed of about 80 kmph be increased to 160 kmph-200 kmph,“ said another source.

Sources said though the final report of the Chinese delegation is expected in February this year, there is little hope that Indian Railways will go ahead with the project as announced in the budget last year by the Narendra Modi government.

Alok Tiwari, chief project manager (Bangalore field office), RVNL did agree about the difficulties in implement ing the high speed rail project along the said corridor.“There are many practical problems. However, a final call on the project will be taken only after the report submission by the Chinese delegation,“ he added.

An official from the South Western Railway said another problem with the corridor is that it is a very busy corridor and is difficult to stop operations for long to implement the project. “As many as 27 trains ply between Bengaluru and Mysuru and 21 along the Chennai route,“ he added.

B'LURU-CHENNAI RAIL - High-speed train may be scrapped

 

[Ankit Kumar]

@anant_s

 

[gslv]

Even if it's costs more they should do it bcoz you just can't forever expect ppl to go by such slow trains forever , it's better to develop such high speed corridors one by one. And if I remember Chennai bangalore route is one of the busiest.

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

We need to scrap that Mysore part then. Bangalore Mysore has just a single track and its a pain in the *** going from Bang-Mysore in train.

 

[nang2]

Instead of shooting for high speed of 300km/ h, improving existing track to get to 150km/ h may be more practical.

 

[HariPrasad]

Instead of shooting for high speed of 300km/ h, improving existing track to get to 150km/ h may be more practical.

Fully agree. 300 KMPH is costly as well. There is a need to improve it phase wise. say from 120 to 150 kmph and than 180 and than 200 KMPH.

 

[tested]

The article is wrongly phrased.

It means that converting this corridor to Semi HSR(150kmph) is difficult because of the curves.

 

[Indika]

chennai - blore is high traffic area they shud have high speed railway for better & faster economic connectivity. It blore-mysore travel time is cut down to 1-1.5 hrs then we can reduce the stress on bangalores growth.

 

[anant_s]

If i were the planning engineer, here is what i would have done:

improve the tracks to 60 kg, 90/110 UTS standards.
survey and improve bridges.
Remove any permanent SR on tracks.
Remove sharp curves. new alignment where required.
electrify.
Employ WAP5 with LHB rake.
Remove any Level crossings.
Improve Track circuit and signalling.

All these are extremely manageable points and we can get 180-200 kph service without much of problem. no new technology is required.

 

[gslv mk3]

All these are extremely manageable points and we can get 180-200 kph service without much of problem. no new technology is required.

Sir,what about TPWS ? I heard that IR is going for Thales TPWS

 

[anant_s]

Sir,what about TPWS ? I heard that IR is going for Thales TPWS

Dear @gslv mk3

TPWS = Train Protection and Warning System.

One of the biggest reasons of Rail accidents involving collision has been Over speeding by Drivers and Passing a Danger Signal (called SPAD or Signal Passing at Danger in Railway Parlance).
TPWS is required on following operating conditions:
1. Where Traffic is dense (Closely spaced trains requiring very vigilant driving by Engine pilots)
2. Weather conditions poor (like Fog, where visibility is low leading to either slow speed movement or additional external help for safe driving).
Now i must mention something about Block Signalling here for further understanding.
In this system track is divided into blocks by means of signals. When a train move on these blocks, the track circuitry, sends pulse to signalling system indicating where the train is (defined by means of signal). Based on its poisition the preceding signals turn to Amber, yellow or Green to allow movement and speed of a following train.

Now here the awareness and skills of driver along with following of speed limits religiously based on signal and speed codes.

Multi Aspect Color Lighting Signals used by Indian Railways.
You can read more here Metro Signalling
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now coming back to train protection. As i said, teh system is reliable but depends a lot on Driver remaining vigilant and trained. There are instances where wither Human factors (Fatigue, sabotage, Driver not remaining focused etc) or Environmental factors (Fog, very heavy rains etc), where the train can over speed or cross a signal, leading to erroneous situations and in some unfortunate circumstances collision.
Here is where TWPS comes to rescue by providing one more layer of protection over and above Human intervention.
This system has set of Sensors (Both on Track and on-board train) which sense both Speed and Track Signalling. In case of any of the factors requesting, the system can either bring train to stop or Slow down.

Indian Railways is trying to install this system first on High Traffic density routes and then on other tracks as well. This will help in bringing down collision accidents to Zero. This has been a priority issue with Indian railways.

.

Thales System
Thales is one of the leading manufacturer of this System and hey have installed a lot of these systems on British Tracks.

Products & Equipment | TPWS | Thales UK

Indian Railways has already started to install this system and several locomotives are now being installed with this system.
Hopefully this system will bring down not only improvement in speed but also improve safety manifolds.

 

[HariPrasad]

Let us learn lesson from this. All new track should be capable to handle 220 kmph semi high speed train. Angle should be less than 5% as observed by chinese. Our new engines are of 9000 to 10000 HP engines which are more than capable to make train run 200 KMPH+. The real constrain is track, safety equipment and proper protection on track to avoid animals coming in way. We must work in this areas to make our trains faster and make our journey safer

 

[satishkumarcsc]

You have to go through mountainous terrain..to reach bangalore. So it was bound to happen.

 

[$@rJen]

Man.. Chennai-Bangalore lane is one of the damn busiest in South India.. Its better to replace them now, any how it'll be done in the future. why not now.. people are aching to see the reduction of traveling time, Gov should go ahead. drop the Mysore plan as of now.

 

[nang2]

Man.. Chennai-Bangalore lane is one of the damn busiest in South India.. Its better to replace them now, any how it'll be done in the future. why not now.. people are aching to see the reduction of traveling time, Gov should go ahead. drop the Mysore plan as of now.

busiest and richest. why not build another track along with the old one?