The introduction of India’s first semi-high-speed Regional Rail service, ‘Namo Bharat,’ has brought a significant transformation to the country’s railway system. The train, flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, connects Sahibabad to Duhai Depot in Uttar Pradesh. It is a remarkable advancement in the country’s public transportation infrastructure.
The recently introduced ‘Namo Bharat’ RapidX trains are constructed using stainless steel, which was supplied by Jindal Stainless to Alstom for the development of technologically advanced and cutting-edge train sets designed for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS project. This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives.
The adoption of stainless steel has ushered a profound revolution in the railway sector. Let’s take a closer look at the contribution of the Jindal Stainless in making the Namo Bharat trains.
JSL provides 600 MT of stainless steel
The Jindal Stainless has supplied around 600 Metric Tonnes (MT) of world-class 301LN stainless steel grade in finishes 2J and 2B were supplied to Alstom for the 11 train sets. Each train set consists of six coaches. The various components of the train, including sidewall skins, brackets, end walls, sole bars, cantrails, roofs, and under-frames, are being developed using stainless steel.
In a statement, Abhyuday Jindal, Managing Director of Jindal Stainless said, “Another feather in our cap in our 25-year association with the government in railways. Proud to have supplied stainless steel for India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS).”
Energy-efficiency train sets
The Namo Bharat trains operates at a maximum speed of 160 kmph and thereby reducing the travel time between two cities – Delhi and Meerut by around 40 per cent. This is possible due to the use of stainless steel in the train sets. The stainless steel provides the best-in-class safety for passengers and enables the development of lightweight, energy-efficient train sets.
Low-life cycle cost
The stainless steel is a ‘green metal’ which provides a low life cycle cost. It is an optimal raw material for developing long-lasting sustainable solutions for modern railway infrastructure in the country. It also offers a high strength-to-weight ratio.
About Jindal Stainless
The JSL is currently engaged in supplying high-strength stainless steel grades like 301LN and 304L in LT, MT, HT and DLT configurations for metro and railway coaches. Its products have received approval from the major coach manufacturers like Alstom and BEML.