Railways ask ICF to make two trains of 250 km per hour
RAILWAYS & METRO RAIL

Railways ask ICF to make two trains of 250 km per hour

First, the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, the Ministry of Railways' production unit, has been ordered to build two trains with a top speed of 250 km/h (kmph).The Railway Board requested that the ICF create these two trains as part of its 2024?2025 manufacturing schedule in a letter dated June 4. With a maximum speed of 250 kmph and a running speed of 220 kmph, the trains would be constructed with a steel body. Standard gauges will be used for construction. The trains will use the Vande Bharat platform, according to authorities, as part of the transporter's strategy to boost the pace of upcoming Vande Bharat trains. The railways said these would be eight-coach trains. It has been building a standard gauge train test track in Rajasthan for the last year, mainly to evaluate its capabilities for creating high-speed trains and exporting Vande Bharat trains, which need to be converted from broad gauge to standard gauge, the most widely used gauge in the world. There are no fast-moving trains in India. According to experts, the project is anticipated to pose a significant challenge. Sudhanshu Mani, former general manager of the ICF who led the development of the initial Vande Bharat trains, remarked that achieving a standard gauge train with a speed of 250 kmph by March 2025, considering the top speed of Vande Bharat trains is 180 kmph, is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible. He suggested that the ICF could be motivated with sufficient autonomy and, under committed leadership, undertake this development over a period of three to four years. He emphasised that, if successful, it would mark a significant milestone. However, he criticised the issuance of letters proposing unrealistic targets, deeming it counterproductive. Ashwini Vaishnaw, the caretaker minister for railways, stated to Business Standard that the government's objective has been to indigenize high-speed rail technology. He mentioned that high-speed trains on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridors are being constructed using Japanese technology from Shinkansen, or bullet trains, and the government has been learning from these experiences to develop similar trains in India.

First, the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, the Ministry of Railways' production unit, has been ordered to build two trains with a top speed of 250 km/h (kmph).The Railway Board requested that the ICF create these two trains as part of its 2024?2025 manufacturing schedule in a letter dated June 4. With a maximum speed of 250 kmph and a running speed of 220 kmph, the trains would be constructed with a steel body. Standard gauges will be used for construction. The trains will use the Vande Bharat platform, according to authorities, as part of the transporter's strategy to boost the pace of upcoming Vande Bharat trains. The railways said these would be eight-coach trains. It has been building a standard gauge train test track in Rajasthan for the last year, mainly to evaluate its capabilities for creating high-speed trains and exporting Vande Bharat trains, which need to be converted from broad gauge to standard gauge, the most widely used gauge in the world. There are no fast-moving trains in India. According to experts, the project is anticipated to pose a significant challenge. Sudhanshu Mani, former general manager of the ICF who led the development of the initial Vande Bharat trains, remarked that achieving a standard gauge train with a speed of 250 kmph by March 2025, considering the top speed of Vande Bharat trains is 180 kmph, is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible. He suggested that the ICF could be motivated with sufficient autonomy and, under committed leadership, undertake this development over a period of three to four years. He emphasised that, if successful, it would mark a significant milestone. However, he criticised the issuance of letters proposing unrealistic targets, deeming it counterproductive. Ashwini Vaishnaw, the caretaker minister for railways, stated to Business Standard that the government's objective has been to indigenize high-speed rail technology. He mentioned that high-speed trains on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridors are being constructed using Japanese technology from Shinkansen, or bullet trains, and the government has been learning from these experiences to develop similar trains in India.

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Metro Line 2B Phase 1 to Boost Realty in Mumbai’s Eastern Suburbs

Mumbai’s real estate sector is set for a major boost as Phase 1 of Metro Line 2B, between Mandale and Diamond Garden, nears completion. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has confirmed that mandatory rectifications are done, and inspections by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) have been carried out. The 5.39-km stretch with five stations forms part of the larger DN Nagar–Mandale corridor, designed to ease congestion and improve east–west connectivity. Passenger operations are expected by December 2025, with the full line slated for 2027. ..

Next Story
Resources

WattPower wins Best Inverter award at Global Solar Expo 2025

WattPower, a leading renewable energy solutions provider, has won the award for “Best Inverter in the Utility Segment” at the Global Solar Expo 2025. The recognition underscores the company’s commitment to delivering reliable, high-performance and future-ready solar solutions for large-scale projects. At the forefront of utility-scale solar, WattPower manufactures advanced string inverters that directly feed power into the Indian grid. With robust technology, high-quality components and comprehensive product lifecycle support, its solutions stand among the most sophisticated in the ..

Next Story
Real Estate

Awfis delivers 67,000 sq. ft. innovation hub for eBay in Bengaluru

Awfis Space Solutions, India’s largest flexible workspace provider and the first publicly listed workspace solutions platform, has partnered with eBay to establish a 67,000 sq. ft. innovation hub at Embassy Tech Village, Bengaluru. The mandate covers design, build and management of the new office, which will act as a strategic hub supporting diverse functions and accelerating eBay’s AI-first commerce strategy. The centre will focus on artificial intelligence, engineering, product development and applied research, strengthening eBay’s growth in India. Embassy Tech Village, North Beng..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?