Indian Railways' New High-Speed Train Testing Track To Enable Trains To Run At Over 200 Kmph

The Indian Railways is building a high-speed train testing track as part of its efforts to modernise and upgrade rail infrastructure.

The test track will enable the trains to run at the speeds exceeding 200 kmph.

The 59 km long high-speed train testing track is being constructed by the North Western Railway between Gudha-Thathana Mithri in Rajasthan's Jodhpur.

The high-speed dedicated railway track will consist of a 23-kilometre long mainline, a 13-kilometre long high-speed loop at Gudha, a 3-kilometre accelerated testing loop at Nawa, and a 20-kilometre curve testing loop at Mithri. 

The project will reportedly allow for comprehensive testing facilities of trains and rolling stock components up to a speed of 220 kmph. 

With this track, the railways will be able to test and certify high-speed trains for use on the country’s tracks, and will also be able to showcase its capabilities to potential investors and partners.

According to North West Railway zone CPRO Shashi Kiran, the first phase of the high speed test track will be completed by December 2023.

"The project is progressing well and we hope to complete the second phase by December 2024,” Captain Shashi Kiran was quoted as saying by Times of India.

The high-speed train testing track will also help in studying various aspects of rail-wheel interaction forces, crashworthiness, stability, twist and yaw, coefficient of flexibility, wheel offloading, X-factor, bogie rotational resistance tests, and accelerated testing of components.

Moreover, 220 kmph Overhead Equipment (OHE) and all types of signaling systems are being provided on the test track, reports News18.