The first highlight about India’s First Bullet Train is that our student who has completed our 5 months Post Graduate Program in Construction Project Management has been placed in Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project. We, at Apaha Institute of Construction Project Management are contributing our bit in India’s First Bullet Train Project (Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project) by placing qualified civil engineer in the project.

Now let’s have a look at other Project Highlights of India’s First Bullet Train:

Undersea tunnel

India’s first Bullet Train will pass through Thane Creek in Mumbai. Thane Creek being a protected sanctuary for flamingoes as well as mangroves, an undersea tunnel will be constructed in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project, to ensure no disturbance to existing ecosystem. This undersea tunnel tunnel will be 1st undersea tunnel of India. The Undersea Tunnel has been designed as a single tube with 13.2 meters diameter to be executed by both TBM and NATM methods in different sections.

High speed rail training center in Vadodara

High Speed Rail Training Institute has been set up alongside National academy of Indian Railways (NAIR) in Vadodara. In this high speed rail training center training will be given to all NHSRCL staff. In this institute training will be imparted by officers/staff members who have been trained in Japan along with Japanese experts. High-Speed Rail Training Institute in Vadodara will be the back bone for future development of other High-Speed Corridors in India.

Aerial Lidar topographic survey

In India, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technique has been adopted for the 1st time in a railway project. This technique has been adopted due to its high accuracy (100 mm). In this technique a combination of GPS data, Laser data, actual photos and flight parameters are used to give accurate survey data.  This data is helpful for design of alignment of high speed rail corridor.

92% elevated track

In Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project, approx. 92% of the railway tack will be elevated through bridges and viaducts. Out of total 508.09 KMs distance of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project, 460.3 KMs (90.5%) will be viaduct, 25.87 KMs tunnels (including 7 KM long undersea tunnel), 9.22 KMs (1.8%) is on bridges, and 12.9 KMs (2.5%) will be on embankment/Cutting.

Following are the key benefits of an elevated track:

  • provides crossing at all places
  • no obstruction to natural flow of waters
  • greatly improves safety and security perception against external interference 
  • reduces land requirement (17.5 m width in comparison to 36 m for conventional railway tracks)

Signalling system – DS-ATC Shinkansen technology

India’s First Bullet Train will be equipped with most advanced signalling system as used in Japanese Bullet trains (Japanese Shinkansen Trains). It comprises of following signalling systems:

  • primary train detection through coded digital audio frequency track circuits
  • secondary detection through analog axle counters
  • high quality gas filled ATC cables for higher safety and reliability

Gas filled cables are used for the first time in Indian railways. The cable gas pressure monitoring system helps in monitoring these cables and quick detection of cable breakage or crack.

Telecommunication system (Based on Shinkansen)

India’s First Bullet Train will be equipped with most advanced telecommunication system as used in Japanese Bullet Trains (Japanese Shinkansen trains). The key feature of this telecommunication system are:

  • use of optical fibre cables
  • centrally controlled passenger information system
  • use of high quality gas filled LCX cables for higher safety and quality

Aerodynamic design- Reducing air drag

Aerodynamics play a critical role when we are talking about a bullet train running at an operational speed of 320 km per hour. Following features have been implemented in India’s First Bullet Train to reduce overall drag:

  • fixtures like fairings fitted all around the gaps between cars
  • side and bottom covers for bogies
  • under-frame mounted equipment
  • front nose to deal with micro pressure waves and blasting sound while exiting a tunnel