Feasibility study on high-speed trains on

Feasibility study on high-speed trains onBy Team Mangalorean BangaloreBANGALORE, October 6, 2009:Praveen Kumar, member of the Railway Board, on Tuesday said that a feasibility study on introducing high-speed trains, with speeds of above 250 km per hour, is underway and it would be completed soon by experts from abroad.A report will be submitted in a few months. The study would also help Indian Railway to take up more projects and modernization, he said.Speaking to reporters at a seminar on 'Wheel-Design and Higher Wheel Life and Safety organised as part of Silver Jubilee of Rail Wheel Factory here, Mr Kumar said that feasibility for Bangalore-Hubli, Bombay-Ahmedabad and Delhi-Chandigarh trains was being considered and State governments had shown keen interest in incurring the expenses. The projects would be developed on PPP Model, he said.After the completion of the study, a project would be taken up on a pilot basis, he said.Introduction of High Speed Trains needed lot of infrastructural development, including a dedicated track and there should not be level crossing. It also required advanced signalling. Once it was approved and source of funds identified, the project would be introduced as pilot on any one of the most suitable sections. Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa said that there was a demand for export from the Rail Wheel Factory and there was a seven-per cent increase in production over the last one year. He said that the Wheel and Axle Plant at Yelahanka in Bangalore is doing yeoman service and has increased its production from 1,20,000 to 1,90,000 units and it would further be increased in the coming years. Recognising its service, the Railway Ministry has announced a special prize of Rs 10 lakh.He said to the extent possible, we should adopt the hub and spoke model wherein Railways connect important towns and the small towns are connected by roads. ''In other words, the Railway Junction becomes a hub and the arterial roads will connect the smaller towns and villages.''It would not only minimize pressure and wear and tear of roads but also saves precious foreign exchange. ''A large chunk of our foreign exchange goes towards importing fuel. This can be reduced if Railways are used to carry goods and passengers for long distance, and roads for travelling shorter distances to villages and small towns,'' he added.Mr Muniyappa said the doubling of Bangalore-Mysore line would be completed within next three years. Already the work has been completed upto Ramanagar from Bangalore and between Ramnagar and Mysore, it would take time since there are many bridges to be constructed.