SNCF has submitted to the Indian Railways the execution strategy and implementation model for the Delhi-Chandigarh rail corridor with details of cost analysis and technical parameters. According to the draft final report, it will cost about USD 1.7 billion to increase the train speed up to 200 km per hour on the Delhi-Chandigarh route so that the travel time can be reduced to two hours. This sum includes the cost of signals upgrade, main civil works and rolling stock among others.
The study forsees works of re-alignment as there are about 20 major curves spanning over 32.7 km on the existing Delhi-Chandigarh rail route, but no land acquisitions. The total travel time will be 2 hours and 2 minutes at a maximum speed of 200 km/h with two stops at Panipat and Ambala, according to the report. Currently, the Shatabdi Express covers the distance in about three hours and 30 minutes travelling at a maximum speed of 110 kmh.
The 245-km Delhi-Chandigarh corridor, one of the busiest routes in north India, is slated to be the first semi-high speed project implemented to run trains at maximum speeds of 200 km/h with French help. The 1,700-page detailed report will be used for preparing tendering documents and drawing out an action plan for the project. The project will be formally launched in January 2018.
The Indian Railways will sign a MoU with SNCF next year expanding the scope of cooperation in the rail sector, including training of drivers of semi-high speed trains and safety and security of train networks.
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