High speed rail:Germany to study Chennai-Bangalore-Mysore route

New Delhi

Speed seems to be the latest mantra for Railways as it has roped in Germany to undertake feasibility study for running high speed trains on the southern corridor.

“It was decided at a meeting today with the high level German delegation that Germany will conduct feasibility study on Chennai-Bangalore-Mysore section for running high speed train. Germany will also bear the expenditure for the study,” said a senior Railway Ministry official.

Besides, Railway officials also discussed with the German team about raising speed on one of the existing line to 200 km per hour, he added.

Led by State Secretary of Germany’s Transport and Digital Infrastructure Ministry Michel Odenwald, the German delegation met Railway Board Chairman A K Mittal and senior officials here to discuss various issues involving running high speed train, raising speed on the existing track and redevelopment of stations.

Railways also requested Germany to undertake a study of one station for renovation/redevelopment.

Railways has earmarked 400 stations to be redeveloped as smart stations with added passenger amenities involving private players.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had visited Germany to discuss cooperation between the two countries in the rail sector. Besides, Prabhu also had a meeting with German rail industries to offer investment opportunities in the rail sector in India.

The German expertise in the field of high speed rail, increasing speed of existing routes, station development, multi modal logistics terminal and automobile logistics are of interest to India.

PTI