anant_s
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Most of 300 kph trains (TGVs, Shinkansen) run on standard gauge track of 1435 mm. Therefore there are limited choices with respect to trainsets for Broad gauge.What about upgrading existing passenger tracks to HSR? Is that financially viable?
Here trains like Talgo offer a unique advantage of allowing 200-225 kph services on existing tracks. However at higher than 200 kph service, changes in signalling system and Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) is required, but again this cost is still lower than having dedicated High Speed Tracks. So for a country like us, it is an exciting technology.
Altogether new tracks. Existing tracks are shared by freight and passenger trains. As a result, average speed of trains in kept low. A separate track corridor for fast passenger trains was therefore considered. But apart from economics, one more problem was that such a track needs to pass through cities, where little or no land is available.When you said "lay high speed dedicated passenger tracks", did you mean new tracks, or upgrading the existing ones?
Dedicated freight lines on other hand, doesn't face such problem and can bypass congested areas, leading further reduction in cost.