Talgo - India (Trial)

Red light for Spanish racer’s dream run.

The first coach of Spanish train firm Talgo's 9-coach trainset arrived late Tuesday at the Izatnagar workshop of North Eastern Railway (NER) at Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.

Carried on multi-axle trucks called mafis, the train had left from Mumbai Port Trust on May 7. The rest of the 8 coaches are expected in the next couple of days, said NER officials.

Officials told dna that there was palpable excitement among the staff of the workshop as it is for the first time that a completely new design of rolling stock — railway lingo for trains — has come to the workshop.

NER said that the train will have to be re-assembled at the Izatnagar workshop before being deployed for trials. This is because the coach and the wheel-set and other parts like interiors are being sent by truck separately.

The trials should start by the end of May or early June. It will be the first time a completely imported train-set is put on trial on the Indian Railways. While the Vehicle Dynamics Simulation report conducted by Talgo on Indian tracks have certified the speed capability of the tracks at 198 kilometre per hour, railway officials told dna the Mathura-Palwal trial will be at standard speed of 180 kmph. Incidentally, the Mathura-Palwal stretch saw a train at top test speed of 180 kmph when the railways had tested the Delhi-Agra Gatimaan Express which at 160 kmph is currently India's fastest train.

"One coach will have oscillograph and other speed trial equipment, and the train will be pulled by a WDP 4 or WAP 5 locomotive capable of pulling to speeds of 180 kmph. The trials will test the stability of the train, its top speed in Indian track conditions and the emergency braking distance. It could herald a new era if the trials are successful," said an official.

Train configuration will test:

Single-axle end coach called TG4 by Talgo

One first class and one VIP coach called TA4

One cafeteria coach called TC4

Four second class coaches called TB4

One end car called TB4z

Total of nine coaches.

Talgo trains are best known for their unconventional "articulated" passenger cars mounted on Talgo's patented Jacob's bogies. The wheels in Talgo coaches are mounted in pairs but not joined by an axle and the bogies are shared between two coaches, compared to the conventional design in which bogies are fitted underneath individual coaches.

"This allows a railway car to take a turn at higher speed with less swaying. Also, as the coaches are not mounted directly onto wheel bogies, the coaches are more easily insulated from track noise. Talgo trains can also change rail gauge, as they are fitted with variable gauge axles," said a ministry official.

Conventional trains in India do not cross a certain level of speed, as the track network is designed for sharing between fast-moving passenger trains and slow-moving goods traffic. This makes it difficult to negotiate curves at high speed.

As part of plans to ramp up passenger train speeds to 160 kmph (kilometer per hour) and above, the Indian Railways have accepted the Spanish offer to conduct free trials on the existing broad gauge tracks.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) estimated a substantial cost towards upgrading signaling systems and strengthening tracks to increase speeds on the New Delhi-Mumbai route while the Spanish company claims 160 kmph can be achieved without upgrades.

Talgo coaches have wheels mounted in pairs but not joined to the axle. The bogeys are shared among a set of coaches rather than being underneath an individual coach. This allows the rail car to move on curves at higher speeds.

Note: Talgo is using screw Coupling system. (Pic Courtesy: Anirudh Jolly)

"If the trial runs are successful, the railways may procure these trains through global tender. The actual purchase cost could be even less than what it costs now," said a senior official. "Light weight Talgo coaches are extremely energy efficient. In a standard comparison, Talgo trains can consume 30 per cent less energy than any other train in the market. This reduction in energy consumption consequently contributes to a considerable saving in operating costs," he said.

Talgo trains are capable of hitting a maximum speed of 200 km per hour but trials will only be conducted at the speed of 150-160 km per hour.

Since these trains are light weight with exceptional rolling dynamics, they can maintain high speed even on sharp curves. The Spanish train-maker has offered to test-run its lighter and faster trains free of cost on the existing Indian Railways network. The first Talgo train trial will be conducted on the Bareilly-Moradabad rail route at a maximum speed of 115 kmph for oscillation test, followed by trials on Mathura-Palwal corridor and Delhi-Mumbai corridor. Nine coaches of Talgo trains have already arrived at Mumbai port from Barcelona.

After a meeting with railway's minister Mr Suresh Prabhu last May, Talgo CEO Mr Jose Maria Oriol told journalists in Delhi that the company could also be willing to establish a manufacturing facility in India if wins a contract to supply trains to IR.

Talgo will conduct the three-month trial entirely at its own cost, even though there is no immediate prospect of an order. "IR has made no commitments to a purchase," a senior ministry official said.

Photo Courtesy: Facebook, Twitter, Ministry of Railways India.