Introduction To Railways in India: Modern Developments

INTRODUCTION TO RAILWAYS
IN INDIA
 MODERN DEVELOPMENTS
What is “Rail Transit”?
• Lightweight passenger rail cars operating on a two-rail track
similar to railroad tracks
• Driven electronically with power drawn from an overhead
electric line
• Usually runs on the street with the right of way
Light Rail Transit
• Tramways or light rail transit (LRT) is a medium capacity mode of mass
rapid transport which straddles between the heavy capacity Metro rail and
the low capacity bus services.
• It is a form of rail transit that utilizes equipment and infrastructure that is
typically less massive than that used for heavy rail modes i.e.
commuter/regional, and metro rail/subway.
• A few modes such as people movers and personal rapid transit could be
considered as even "lighter".
• LRT may be at grade, partially grade-separated or completely elevated.
Features of LRT
• LRT is a : low cost,
low axle load,
eco-friendly,
electrically propelled system
with no local pollution and low noise and vibrations.
• Light rail vehicles (LRV) generally have a top speed of around 100
km/h though mostly operating at much lower speeds, more akin to
road vehicles.
• LRT is the presently the most preferred transport technology in
different world cities .
• After World War second , US stripped of all street car systems and
covered the streets with buses and automobiles.
• The same situation prevailed in Mumbai and Delhi wherein the street
cars(trams) gave into automobiles.
• Traffic congestion, pollution and high gasoline consumption made
different countries to revive the old street car technology with more
efficient and functional technology now called as LIGHT RAIL
TRANSIT.
• LRT is an improvement of the street car system. The primary difference
between LRT and Tramway is that LRT has a dedicated right of way
taken away from road traffic.
• In congested areas of cities, the LRT may use tunnel section of elevated
tracks.
• The exclusive rights of way and separation may vary from 40 to 90% of
the total length of network.This enhances the quality of service.
• The LRT routes are designed in such a way that they could be upgraded
as MRTS at a later date with slight modifications
Advantages
• LRT uses predominantly reserved, but not necessarily grade separated
right- of way.
• Electrically propelled rail vehicles operate singly or in trains of four-axle
Cars and up to five unit cars.
• This have the capability of loading passengers from street level or
medium or high-level platforms.
• LRT provides wide range of passenger capacities and performance
characteristics depending upon right-of-way it uses.
• It can be operated in subways, on streets, on elevated structures, in
exclusive right-of way with or without grade crossings, in the medians of
highways and on an abandoned rail road right-of-way.
• Its fixed facilities need not be built to the same standard over its entire
length.
• It can be built to rapid transit standard where higher speeds and
capacities are needed.
• In segments where medium capacity exists, it can be made simple and
low cost.
• The individual car capacity is 100 to 180 persons. Of these, only 20 to
30% will have seats.
• The vehicle has driving control at both ends. Maximum speed of the
vehicle is about 60 Km/h. The average speed may be around 15 to 25
km/h. However, it depends on the mix of traffic on its right of way.
• Stops of L.R.Ts are closely spaced.
Disadvantages
• Low speeds
• Low carrying capacity
• Reduction of overall capacity of roads.
Mass rapid transit system
• A Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) is the backbone of any city
transport system.
• Absence of MRTS forces commuters to switch over to personal modes
such as TWs/ cars.
• Growth of personal modes of transport is not desirable in terms of
pollution, fuel consumption and road space occupancy per person.
• They also cause congestion on roads and consequent delay.
• Conventional mass transit system are tramways, buses, electric trolley
buses and high capacity heavy rail or metro.
• Energy saving and environmental protection calls for restriction on
personalized modes and promotion of public transport.
• This led to up gradation of tramways into Light Rail Transit.
• Simultaneously bus priority schemes such as bus lanes and bus
prioritized signals were introduced.
• Guided systems use less space, while rubber tyres could negotiate steep
gradients and reduce noise.
• This led to development of mass transit systems with mixed features
such as guided buses and rubber tyred rail transit.
• The main criterion in the choice of a mass transit system is the
transport demand to be met, now and in future.
• The future demand is important because it is not easy to change from a
bus way to a light rail to a heavy rail as a city grows.
Significant features of MRTS
→ Carrying capacity is high > 25,000 PHPDT.

→ Speed is very high up to 100 Km/h.
→ Inter station distance is very less around one km.
→ Non-polluting and environmental friendly system
→ Fast, reliable, safe and comfortable
→ Energy requirement per passenger kilometre is one fifth
Tube Railways
Under ground railway at about 25 m or more in
depth below ground
The section of under ground tunnels carrying the railway is
circular like a tube, so they are called tube railways.
Purpose of having deep railway tunnel is to avoid the inference
of the railway lines with water and sewerage systems; and oil
or drainage pipes etc. which are laid below the ground
Some of the features of the tube railways which are still in
developing stage in index are given below:
→ The railway stations of the tube railways have to be of

cylindrical form.
→ Escalators (or moving stair cases) are required to reach
tube railways. They are provided for both downward and
upward movements.
→ Only electric traction is used to avoid the smoke and
ventilation problems.
→ Automatic signalling through track circuiting is used.
→ Automatic ticket issuing devices are installed on the
platforms so that tickets can be obtained without wastage of
time.
→ Mechanism of the train is such that it cannot start until all
the doors are closed, and it automatically stops, if signal is at
"STOP" position.
→ Tunnels for tube railways have been constructed to a depth
of 18 m below the ground level.
LONDON UNDERGROUND
 Tube railways are used by London Post Office as transporting

mails through a small diameter tunnel with automatic control
without any driver.
 Many other excellent tube railways, besides London Post
Service Mail, are existing in UK.
 The London underground railways cover the largest area of the
world’ s metros.
High Speed Tracks
The tracks which allow operation of trains at speeds more than
120 kilometres per hour.
Why high speed tracks ?
→ There is a rapidly increasing demand of transportation,
→ The running of heavy loads at faster speeds safely and

economically between the two major terminal stations.
→ Better productivity
→ To provide better services to customer, if they can be

transported or the freights can be moved at higher speed.
The high-speed trains can be classified in two
categories
•High speed tracks

•Super high speed tracks
High Speed Tracks
Speeds are over 120 kilometres per hour and are up to 250 kilometres
per hour.
It requires :
• Modified traction like diesel and electric traction instead of steam
tracks.
• Modernization of present track to higher standards.
Super High Speed Tracks
Speeds are above 250 kilometres per hour.
It requires :Advanced traction efforts

Track modernization.

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INTRODUCTION TO RAILWAYS

→ Carrying capacity is high > 25,000 PHPDT.

→ The railway stations of the tube railways have to be of

 Tube railways are used by London Post Office as transporting

→ There is a rapidly increasing demand of transportation,

→ The running of heavy loads at faster speeds safely and

→ To provide better services to customer, if they can be

•High speed tracks

It requires :Advanced traction efforts

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