Talgo Trains: A new beast in the Indian Railways?

Why in the News?

The Spanish Talgo train completed its final trial run between Delhi and Mumbai. It was successful in achieving its targeted time of completing the journey in less than 12 hours.

About the train

• Talgo is a specialised firm that manufactures railway coaches. Nine super light-weight coaches manufactured by Spanish firm Talgo, which can hit 200 km per hour, were imported to Mumbai in April.

• The nine-coach Talgo train consists of two Executive Class cars, four Chair Cars, a cafeteria, a power car and a tail-end coach for staff and equipment.

• Talgo coaches:

1.     Are 20% lighter.

2.     Employ axel free wheels.

3.     Uses 2 wheel shared on 2 coach design.

4.     Have independent movement wheels.

Hence it can achieve higher average speed.

• Initially top speed will be of 160 with average speed 125+. Thus increase in average speed in Rajdhani will be 50% over current average speed of 85. Later max speed will be increased to 180 (after track & signaling upgrade and certification).

• Also due to light weight and better rolling dynamics there is expected power saving of 30%.

First Hand Experience:

Mr. Joydeep Dutta, professor in IIT Kanpur states that, “I have travelled by Talgo extensively in Spain and also between France and Spain. Travel by Talgo is indeed a pleasure and as you go near the end of the coaches you would hear the hissing sound of the tilting mechanism at work. ”

What is Indian Railways aiming at?

• Indian Railways has been aiming to reduce the travel time between Delhi and Mumbai by over 4 hours. The super-fast Talgo trains were under trial runs for this reason. 
• The tracks between Delhi and Mumbai cover about 1,400 km. Currently, the Rajdhani Express makes the journey in around 16 hours. Talgo’s coaches, that are being pulled by an Indian Railways engine, consume 30% less energy, the company says. 
• Their natural tilting mechanism and the fact that they are lightweight allow them to attain higher speeds on existing Indian tracks, requiring very few infrastructure upgradational inputs from Indian Railways.

Trial Runs:

1. First: On the Bareilly-Moradabad stretch in Uttar Pradesh.

2. Second: On the Palwal-Mathura section of the North-Central Railway.

3. Third: The Delhi Mumbai stretch.

What next?

·        The railways will collate the results of technical and speed tests to determine whether to buy the Talgo coaches.
·        Railway officials say bids will also be sought from other manufacturers for similar high-speed light-weight coaches.

Hope the Talgo coach technology is implemented soon in the Indian Railaways !! We want to zip past the Indian terrain from one place to another !!