A New Era of Indian Railway: Embracing Digital Transformation & Innovation for Sustainability and Passenger Experience
A New Era of Indian Railway: Embracing Digital Transformation & Innovation for Sustainability and Passenger Experience
Indian Railway has embarked on a transformational journey and is harnessing innovation to usher a new era of sustainable mobility in India – one that offers a safer, reliable, faster, punctual, and comfortable travel for the passengers, making every train journey a satisfying experience, while being environment-friendly with lowest possible carbon footprint.
Indian Railway is a key driver for India’s economic growth and development. The Government of India has focused on investing in railways to upgrade its infrastructure networks fit for operating both freight and passenger trains at higher speeds which shall play a major role in integrating and bringing different parts of our vast country closer and thus enhancing economic activities in meeting the $1 Trillion economy target1.
The amalgamation of advanced technologies and empowering measures by the Government in all the areas of railway from infrastructure to rolling stock, customer services and modernised railway stations, digitisation of railway operations and predictive asset management, implementation of the landmark Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) and ambitious bullet train network are all propelling the nation towards sustainable mobility, with passenger experience and economy growth at the core.
Hitachi, being the trusted partner of Indian Railway since 1953, is effectively leveraging its OT x IT expertise in implementing its integrated railway solutions to build a resilient mobility infrastructure that augments India’s Social, Environmental, and Economic values.
Transforming Indian Railway, Enhancing Passenger Experience
Safety Enhancements
Safety Enhancements
Technological upgrades to minimize human errors, enhance safety of train operations & to enable higher throughput
Automatic Train Protection against passing signal at danger, over speeding, collision
Elimination of manned level crossings from Golden Quadrilateral — Golden Diagonal (GQ-GD) route
Improved Passenger Experience
Improved Passenger Experience
High-speed rail corridors for speedy train services
Real-time Passenger Information Systems, advanced digital signalling for punctual & reliable train services to passengers
Improved e-ticketing system
Free Wi-Fi at all A1 category stations
Infrastructure Upgrades
Infrastructure Upgrades
Electrification of rail network
Automatic Block Signalling with Traffic Management Systems
Energy-efficient rolling stock & introduction of semi-high speed fully air conditioned trains
Development of world-class railway stations with state-of-the-art passenger amenities
Train Operations Effectiveness
Train Operations Effectiveness
Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) to separate freight & passenger traffic
Signalling technologies such as Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) for real-time visualization of train operations
Increasing capacity utilization by improving mobility on High Density Networks (HDN) & Highly Utilized Networks (HUN)
Safety Enhancements
Technological upgrades to minimize human errors, enhance safety of train operations & to enable higher throughput
Automatic Train Protection against passing signal at danger, over speeding, collision
Elimination of manned level crossings from Golden Quadrilateral — Golden Diagonal (GQ-GD) route
Improved Passenger Experience
High-speed rail corridors for speedy train services
Real-time Passenger Information Systems, advanced digital signalling for punctual & reliable train services to passengers
Improved e-ticketing system
Free Wi-Fi at all A1 category stations
Infrastructure Upgrades
Electrification of rail network
Automatic Block Signalling with Traffic Management Systems
Energy-efficient rolling stock & introduction of semi-high speed fully air conditioned trains
Development of world-class railway stations with state-of-the-art passenger amenities
Train Operations Effectiveness
Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) to separate freight & passenger traffic
Signalling technologies such as Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) for real-time visualization of train operations
Increasing capacity utilization by improving mobility on High Density Networks (HDN) & Highly Utilized Networks (HUN)
Ensuring Seamless Management of Train Operations
To create a ‘future ready’ railway system, Indian Railway is undertaking a slew of measures as per its ambitious National Rail Plan (NRP) 2030.2 Increasing the railway’s modal share to 45% in freight traffic by 2024 with an increase of freight train’s average speed to 50Kmph, 100% electrification, implementation of several new DFCs, and high-speed rail corridors, in addition to the track doubling of the High-Density Networks (HDN) and Highly Utilized Networks (HUN) to augment capacity on its vast existing network are all part of this plan.
To digitise and automate Indian Railway operations, it is also accelerating the adoption of Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) and Traffic Management Systems (TMS) to overcome the challenges of managing mixed rail traffic on its congested corridors and resolve the issues of train delays thus providing an enriched experience for both freight customers and commuters. Marking a significant milestone in digital rail traffic management, Hitachi Rail, has collaborated with Indian Railway in commissioning India’s first Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) system at Tundla near Agra on the North Central Railway.
This CTC system will automate the operations of freight and passenger trains in the High Density Network of Kanpur-Ghaziabad section of Northern and North Central Railway thus enhancing the capacity to operate more than 400 trains per day3. Thus, the Hitachi system has transformed the operations of this busy and highly congested corridor giving a big relief to the railway personnel comprising of station masters, train crew, and local signal operators to infuse confidence in de-risking their daily tasks. Therefore, through this newly implemented CTC system, Hitachi is empowering operators to control the entire network traffic from one centralized location, thereby ensuring effective management of trains, real-time error detection for improved security, increased section capacity & throughput, and an improved travel experience for thousands of passengers every day.
Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) System
Management of all operations (traffic scheduling, signal facilities, etc.) at one centralized location
Safe & efficient way of managing all train movements
Increases track capacity & train speed through quick train movements
Gives commuters accurate, real-time status of train services
Powering India’s New Freight-Only Corridor
A robust freight transport ecosystem is crucial to advance country’s economic growth. One of the India’s biggest challenges is the logistics cost. The railway has so far lagged in freight transport (17.5% share4), with 71% of freight being carried by trucks on roads4, which is inherently costly and adds to a much larger carbon footprint. To increase railway’s modal share of freight and usher an era of energy efficient, cost-effective and green freight transport, the Government of India has successfully operationalised one of the country’s ambitious projects since Independence - DFCs (Eastern and Western DFC).
Dedicated, 2x25kV AC electrified, high speed, double rail tracks with automatic train protection warning (TPWS) system are being constructed for running longer, heavier, and double-height container freight trains which will progressively free up the existing rail tracks for running high speed passenger trains. Thus, it will be ensuring goods including food grains, oxygen tanks, oils & lubricants etc. and other commodities reach the public across the country in time and at a much lower cost. These corridors will strengthen the vital logistics sector, boost trade & economy, and contribute towards reducing carbon emissions, thus putting India on a greener, digital, and sustainable growth trajectory.
Hitachi is implementing two packages (STP5 and STP5A) for the signalling & telecommunication systems and Train Management System technologies on the western DFC from Rewari in Haryana to JNPT port in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Leveraging on its greener, digital and innovation mandate, coupled with decades of experience in delivering railway systems, Hitachi Rail is implementing a complete signalling and telecommunication system for the 915 route kms (Rewari in Haryana to Vadodara in Gujarat) line involving 31 freight stations and associated terminals with facilities to connect and interchange with Indian Railway network running in parallel. Hitachi is also implementing its digital signalling and automation technologies for a robust Train Protection and Warning System for 1,337 route km (Rewari, Haryana to JNPT-Port, Mumbai) line involving 43 freight stations and On-board system to be deployed on the first 200 electric locomotives manufactured by Chitranjan Locomotive Works. This Automatic Train Protection system is based on the worldwide proven European Train Control System for enhanced railway system safety and security, and for efficient high speed freight train operations.
The western DFC once fully commissioned will be able to operate 1,500m long-haul with hauling capacity up to 15,000 tonnes, and double-stacked container freight trains at speeds up to 100 kmph, a significant shift for freight train operations in India, thus instrumental in achieving the modal shift as well as reducing the logistics cost.
Hitachi’s Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS)
Implementing on Western Dedicated Freight Corridor spread over 1,337 route kms and on 200 Electric Locomotives
Compatible with European Train Control System (ETCS) with safety functionalities required for Indian train operating conditions
Automatic brakes if a train exceeds speed limit
Provides audiovisual warning to the driver and prevents him from passing signals at danger
Putting India on Track of Sustainable Growth
The emphasis placed on infrastructure development in the last Union Budget 2021 and expected in the next Budget 2022 together with the unveiling of Gati Shakti National Master Plan by Prime Minister have highlighted the urgency for sustainable mobility to accelerate economic growth and travel experience, keeping intact the environmental values. By partnering with Indian Railway in offering best-in-class passenger and freight transport services, Hitachi is powering good a better world, while supporting the nation to accomplish its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most prominently the SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
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