hate, India’s Bullet Train Ride The Journey So FarIndia's Bullet Train Ride The Journey So Far Table of Contents Chapter1 INTRODUCTION on Chapter2 WHY HSR? 05 Chapter 3. THE GENESIS OF NHSRCL 09 Chapter4 —_ MAHSR CORRIDOR: A LEAP FORWARD a7 Wheels of Change 19 Gateways to the Future 23 Devising the High-speed Track 25 Pillars of Strength 28 Powering the Future 29 Communication is Key 30 Catching the Nerve 32 Mobility for All 32 Capital Matters 33 Chapter5 AIDE WITH TWISTS AND TURNS, 35 Mapping of utilities and their diversion 35 Land acquisition 39 ‘Saving the environment 41 Vadodara HSR station 44 Modifying Shinkansen installations to suit Indian conditions 44 Optimising water utilisation in rainfall-scarce Sabarmati 45 Chapter6 TECHNOLOGICAL MARVELS 46 Undersea Tunnel 46 ‘Sabarmati Passenger Hub 48 Chapter7 USHERING A NEW INDIA 50 Make in India 50 Innovating for a Brighter Future 51 Joining the League of Global HSR Leaders 51 A Future-ready Workforce 52 Building a Brand 54 Empowering our Stakeholders 54 Looking Ahead 56 Chapter8. THE TEAM 57Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION ‘As one of the country’s most ambitious projects — a High Speed Rail (HSR) corridor connecting India's populous city of Mumbai with Ahmedabad — gathers steam, the country is all set to make a giant leap in terms of development and enter the league of developed nations on the Global HSR map. ‘Soon, clogged highways, airport delays, and uncomfortable journeys will be a thing of the past. Our very own ‘bullet’ train, a nickname the train gets from its bullet-like shape and speed, will be seen tearing along west India’s landscape, covering the 508 km distance between the two financial hubs injust about two hours. This willbe a huge time saving compared to current travel times between the two terminal stations of about nine hours (by bus) or six hours (by conventional railways). Indian Railways is the fourth largest railways in the world, ferrying a mammoth 8,300 million passengers and over 1,160 million tonnes of freight every year on its massive track network spanning across a distance of about 70,000 km. The HSR project will be a complete game-changer inthis landscape andis setto redefine the way we Indians travel The state-of-the-art high-speed trains, running on the Japanese Shinkansen technology, will zip at speeds of 320 km/h, which is more than double that of Indian Railways’ fastest train - the Gatiman Express that chugs along at 160 km/h, and we as passengers will get to experience one of the best HSR technologies available globally, offering the highest levels of safety, comfort and reliability as we hop aboard this world-class system. As India takes giant strides on the path to development and positions itself to join the coveted list of global superpowers, a transformation of our 167-year-old railway system is an integral part of this, journey. Towards this end, Indian Railways has envisioned a phased upgradation of its network, both passenger and freight. The National Rail Plan (NRP) for India envisions enhancing the outreach of the HSR system and increasing connectivity to all the cities of importance. As part of the National infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), seven HSR corridors have been identified for which the work of preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) has been entrusted to National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL). These include: 1 Delhi — Lucknow — Varanasi (865 km) 2. Varanasi — Patna — Howrah (760 km) 3. Delhi — Jaipur- Udaipur — Ahmedabad (886 km) 4, Delhi — Chandigarh — Ludhiana - Jalandhar- Amritsar (459 km) 5. Mumbai — Nasik — Nagpur (753 km) 6. Mumbai — Pune - Hyderabad (711 km) 7. Chennai — Bangalore ~ Mysore (435 km) AInauguration ceremony of Tokyo-Osaka Shinkansen in 1964 Gatiman Express is the fastest running trai speed of 160 kmph eSGlobal Perspective According to the Union internationale des chemins de fer (UIC), high speed rail combines many different elements which constitute a ‘whole, integrated system’, infrastructure (new lines designed for speeds above 250 km/h and, in some cases, upgraded existing lines for speeds up to 200 or even 220 km/h), rolling stock (specially-designed train sets), telecommunications, operating conditions and equipment, etc. Globally, high-speed trains cover a total network of over 52,000 km across Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, North America and Africa as on February 27, 2020, according to data compiled by UIC's Passenger Department. This figure is expected to double (to 1,04,413 km) in the near future with several countries planning to expand their networks and new ones entering the fray. HSR Network: Continent Wise 70000 60000 ? 50000 a 440000 3 30000 z 20000 10000 = — = latin North air i Australia Eur rica Asia stralia Europe nM ‘mLongterm Planning 3665 111331749 = 10579 si 949 Planned 1089 3167 o 3508 ° 1659 Under Construction 0 naa ° 3956 ° 763 In Operation 200 40125, ° 124 0 738 Figure: Continent-Wise break up of HSR networks. Source: UIC (https:/uic.org/IMMGipdl/20200227_high_speed ines_in_the_world.pal) Historically, Japan was the first country to make a foray into the HSR space with the Tokaido Shinkansen, which was started between Tokyo and Osaka in time for the 1964 Olympics. The country now has over 3,000 km of high-speed rail ines connecting all its major cities and the lives of whose populace have completely been transformed by the Shinkansen network In Europe, several countries were building new raillines after the existing ones were destroyed in the aftermath of World War II. As per UIC records, France was the first country to inaugurate its Trains a Grande Vitesse (TGV) line between Paris and Lyon. Italy followed next with a HSR system between Rome and Florence. Today, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Britain, Netherlands and Switzerland are all connected via highly efficient HSR systems, which contribute to the European Union's sustainable mobility objectives. EEE| Chapter 2 WHY HSR? We are a society fascinated by speed. From fast cars to zip us around town and same day “express” deliveries of essentials to high-speed internet, fast computing and Elon Musk's futuristic hyperloop, humans are trying to contract time and space in this zealous need for speed. As concepts of time and distance evolved, the 21st century was marked with innovations by mankind to shrink the coordinates further in a globally connected era. People started moving out of their nuclei in search of a better standard of living and employment opportunities. In this landscape, high-speed trains have come to symbolise the future of travel in the world over especially for distances from 500 km to 800 km. A 2019 International Energy Agency (IEA) report titled, ‘The Future of Rail’ revealed that HSR activity worldwide has expanded fivefold in less than 10 years. Despite its limited geographical spread, HSR activity grew by more than 11 per cent per year between 2000 and 2019, nearly three-times faster than growth in any other non-urban transport mode, attaining nearly 1029 billion passenger km in 2019, Introducing a HSR system will fuel India’s economic engine, help meet the environmental and energy challenges of this century and also place the nation on the fast track to development. From a people perspective, high-speed trains are a more easily accessible mode of commute compared to air travel, even as the total journey times are similar when seen from door to door. Social Gains AHSR is a high-capacity mode of transport — up to 2,00,000 people can use the system each day reducing congestion on roads and on other modes of travel. It offers people a safe, reliable and comfortable mode of travel increasing productivity as the time and energy spent in commuting delays can be saved. AHSR system plays a pivotal role in achieving regional integration and creating socio-economically balanced societies. It reduces the temporal distance between cities, taking away the need for people to migrate to big Metropolitan towns or financial hubs to earn a living, Cities that fall on a HSR connection to a big hub become satellite towns, bringing down congestion and the plethora of urban challenges that come with it. This improves the overall quality of life of people in the region as a whole who can travel with much lesser time and costs. Studies have revealed that with the introduction of HSR, sectors like tourism, healthcare and education geta major boost in the region where the network isintroduced. HSR networks are known for their punctuality and multi-modal connectivity. HSR stations are easy to access as they are mostly located in busy city centres, making them a preferred mode of travel for passengers. However, stations which are located at the outskirts can be converted into transit hubs where the local population can interchange between multiple modes of transport. EEThe coming up of a HSR line also has an impact on real estate prices and overall development of the cities ittouches due to the improved connectivity it brings to the region. The introduction of a HSR link between Paris and Lyon led to an increase in real estate prices two years before the line was flagged off and then again two years after the train services commenced. The impact ‘was seen the maximumin areas that were located within a 15 minute perimeter of the line. Station Area Development, which is on the cards for the Indian HSR corridors too, improves the quality of life of people living there and creates city hotspots for locals and tourists alike to visit. Economic Gains The new rail services will connect India's economically vital mega-regions and make them more productive, mobile and internationally competitive. Globally, thas been observed that cities that, have HSR networks are more developed and flourish. The connectivity offered by the rail link helps attract businesses, skilled workforce and tourists. According to a study conducted by London School of Economics and Political Science and the University of Hamburg, cities that are connected to HSR systems witnessed a rise in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by at least 2.7 per cent compared to their neighbours, that were not on the route. Italso revealed a direct correlation between increased market access through HSR connectivity and a rise in GDP. The study cites that for every 1 per cent increase in market access, there is a 0.25 per cent rise in GDP. This research was focussed on the HSR line connecting Cologne and Frankfurt opened in 2002, where trains run at 300 km/h. The coming up of a massive infrastructure project of this magnitude, in turn, creates employment ‘opportunities for the local population, both during the construction phase and after operations begin. During the construction phase itself, the Mumbai Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) projectis expected to create about 90,000 (direct and indirect) jobs. For a country like India known for its technical prowess, getting a new advanced technology for MAHSR corridor is also going to aid the process of Transfer of Technology and skill development of local manpower. Those working on the project will undergo trainings in Japan and use their upgraded skills to reduce unemployment, raise incomes and improve the overall standard of living of people and communities. Ahigh-speed connectivity also gives a boost to tourism as people from nearby areas can make comfortable day trips to see city hotspots. The opening of the Paris-Lyon HSR link in France, for instance, resulted in an increase of 144 per cent in passengers travelling for business and leisure. About 14 million tourists use the TGV Mediterranee to travel to the south of France, according to areporttitled ‘The Economic Footprint of Railway Transportin Europe’ published by ECORYS in October 2014. The report cites a similar impact in Italy with the opening of the Rome — Milan line, where more than 40 million passengers used the HSR system in the first two years and overall demand EEwitnessed an increase of 39.1 per cent from 2009 to 2011. There was a shift from air to rail travel ~ air travel decreased by 1.3 million passengers a year between the cities serviced by high- speedtrains. For the economy as a whole, the demand for machines and materials like cement, steel, etc needed for Construction sees a steep increase offering a boost to these industries. The MAHSR project will generate a requirement for about 7.5 million tonnes of cement, 2.1 million tonnes of steel and 0.14 million tonnes of structural steel, all of which will be made in India. Environmental Gains Rail accounts for 8 per cent of the world's motorised passenger movements and 7 per cent of freight transport, but uses only 2 per cent of the world’s, energy demand. A/HSR system generates one-third the carbon emissions compared to car travel and just one quarter compared to air travel undertaken by the same number of people, taking into account the average loadings typically achieved on each mode. This makes it an eco-friendly mode of travel which will help bring down carbon emissions from the transportation sector as awhole. KEYS sonnei, OPTIMAL DISTANCE FOR HSR CORRIDOR . ‘A World Bank analysis of China, the biggest HSR J Sowce: psi orgiMptic igh speed 2018 ph08.web pt ‘market concludes that HSR is the preferred mode of transport for distances ranging between 150 km and 800 km. In countries like Japan, France and Korea, a distance of about 500 km between two major cities that are connected by a corridor with good economic development in the area formed the major attributes forselection, {In addition tothe origin and destination stations, the According to statistics of UIC, a high-speed train emits just8.1 kg of CO,, compared to 93.0 kg by an aeroplane and 67.4 kg by a car for a 600km trip In case of India, a HSR system will facilitate a shift of passenger traffic from air and road to other stations along the route also must be chosen in a manner that while the ‘important’ cities are covered. Some of the corridors where HSR projects have been very successful meet these parameters. These include Japan's Tokyo — Osaka line (515 km), France's Paris — Lyon line (425 km) and Spain's ‘Madrid — Barcelona line (503 km). The world over, a shift has been noticed to HSR from other modes of travel such as air and rail, especially for longer distances (over 500 km for air and 500 to 800km for rail) the high-speed train running between the cities that start to get serviced. This shift will have a positive impact on the environment as whole, as itwill help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality| Chapter 3 THE GENESIS OF NHSRCL The first mention of a HSR for India was made back in 2009, soon after which a pre-feasibility study was initiated for the Mumbai — Ahmedabad corridor. This was followed by similar studies for other HSR corridors, Such was the buzz created by the news of HSR connectivity in India that several foreign countries evinced interest in the potential HSR corridors and helped prepare feasibility studies. The seed for the MAHSR corridor, as we see it taking shape today, was sown in 2013, when ona trip to Japan, the then Prime Minister of India agreed for a joint feasibility study to bring the HSR technology to India in collaboration with the Japanese government. Interestingly, all the technical aspects of this study were handled by the Japanese, who are the global experts in high-speed rail. But, it was termed as a ‘joint’ study because the funding was shared. In 2014, the joint feasibility study was constituted and a final report was submitted in July 2015 by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) consultant. This report is what forms the basis for the Mumbai Ahmedabad high-speed project. Inking of the Deal The Government of India took a unique initiative ~ a detailed review of this joint feasibility report by the Committee on Innovative Collaborations under the aegis of Vice Chairman Niti Aayog and Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. The committee looked into all the fine details of this report, including the reason for selection of the Japanese Shinkansen technology when there are other HSR technologies available the world over. SHINKANSEN: THE BULLET TRAIN The Shinkansen system offers one of the highest safety levels in the world — there have been zero passenger casualties from when the first Shinkansen train started in Japan in 1964, They run at average punctuality levels of 40 seconds, which is alsoimpeccable, In the meantime, the Japanese government gave their financial proposal on funding at concessional rates, which was also examined by the committee. Based on the recommendations of this committee, the Cabinet approved India's first HSR project in December 2015. The timing of the approval is a story in itself. The Cabinet nod coincided perfectly with the visit of then Japanese Prime Minister Sh Shinzo Abe to India for the India - Japan Summit meeting. The deal was instantly inked with the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the two Prime Ministers, ‘Sh Shinzo Abe and Sh Narendra Modi, on December 12, 2015. The implementation of the MAHSR projectwas now on track. This became a turning point for India's HSR journey. EEIndia Japan Summit Meeting between Sh Shinzo Abe, then Prime Minister of Japan, and Sh Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, on December 12, 2015