A train two times faster than bullet train is coming to India

Indian Railway may soon put on track the next generationMaglev trains that will be two-times faster than the proposed bullet trainbetween Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

The Railway Ministry will be entrusting the task to itsengineering wing RITES to explore the feasibility of developing the corridor onPPP model and the possible funding patterns.

Sources said the consultant will be asked to prepare afeasibility report and subsequently work will begin on preparing the detailedproject report (DPR).

A railway board official said the mechanical wing of therailways has sent a formal proposal to the finance department to work out theexpenditure on the project.

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Since, the project would require huge investment, thegovernment has no option but to develop the same on PPP model. An expression ofinterest was issued by the ministry to which six private companies includingtwo global firms have responded so far.

Top sources in railway ministry said once the projectestimate is prepared, the railways may offer its vacant land for theconstruction purpose and also bear the cost partially.

Since the Maglev train system will be entirely differentfrom the existing railway network, the operation of these trains could behanded over to private agency.

 Officials said theDPR will include the tentative routes, cost estimate and the fare structure. Asper the plan, the corridor will be developed along congested stretches likeDelhi -Howrah, Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Chennai so that it receives adequatepassenger footfall.

This will help in keeping the fares on the lower side.Earlier, two global companies, American Maglev Technology Inc. and SwissRapideAG, conveyed to the government their interest in developing high-speed trainsusing magnetic levitation technology for India.

Apart from these two, four Indian applicants-state-ownedBharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (Bhel) and three lesser known entities-had alsoresponded to the expression of interest sought by the ministry for developinghigh-speed trains.

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Maglev stands for magnetic levitation, and is a transportsystem that uses magnetic levitation to suspend and propel vehicles withmagnets without touching the ground.

 Globally, only asmall number of countries have used the Maglev systems including Germany,China, Japan, South Korea and the US.