Indian Railways Global Upgrade

Indian Railways Explores Global Best Practices to Modernize Infrastructure

In a strategic move to elevate its infrastructure and operational efficiency, Indian Railways is actively studying the railway systems of countries like Russia, Germany, Switzerland, France, and Spain. This initiative aims to adopt global best practices and technologies to transform India’s railway network into a world-class system.​

A significant focus is on Switzerland’s renowned hub-and-spoke model. Unlike India’s traditional end-to-end connectivity, the Swiss system emphasizes synchronized arrivals and departures at central hubs, facilitating seamless passenger transfers. This model, featuring six major hubs interconnected by multiple spokes, could revolutionize passenger movement across India’s vast railway network .

Tunneling technology is another area of interest. Switzerland’s expertise, exemplified by the 57-kilometer Gotthard Base Tunnel—the world’s longest—offers valuable insights. Indian Railways aims to leverage such advanced tunneling techniques, especially for challenging terrains like the Himalayas .

To formalize this collaboration, Indian Railways has renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Swiss Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy, and Communications (DETEC). This agreement encompasses technology sharing, track maintenance, infrastructure modernization, and the adoption of multimodal transport solutions .​

The MoU also aligns with India’s commitment to modernize its railway system. By integrating global standards and innovations, Indian Railways aims to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and passenger experience. The collaboration with Switzerland is expected to pave the way for significant advancements in India’s railway infrastructure .

Furthermore, Indian Railways is exploring the adoption of real-time monitoring systems and staff wellbeing protocols from countries like Germany and France. These initiatives are part of a comprehensive assessment set to conclude in the current fiscal year, after which decisions regarding the implementation of new technologies will be finalized .​

Through these global collaborations, Indian Railways is poised to transform its operations, offering enhanced services and infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of passengers and freight operations alike.

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