India Breaks Ground on Revolutionary J-Slab Track System for Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor
Surat, India – A historic moment in India’s railway infrastructure development as the construction of the first-ever Reinforced Concrete (RC) track bed for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor has commenced. This groundbreaking project introduces the J-slab ballastless track system to the country for the very first time.
The innovative track system features pre-cast track slabs meticulously equipped with fastening devices and rails. These slabs are expertly placed atop the in-situ RC track bed, designed with a thickness of approximately 300mm, catering to both the individual UP and Down track lines on the viaduct top. The RC track bed boasts a width of 2420mm, ensuring stability.
Strategically positioned RC anchors, each with a 520mm diameter and 260mm height and placed at 5m intervals, guarantee optimal alignment for trains operating at speeds of up to 320 kmph.
In a significant development, contracts for track construction throughout the entire Gujarat section have been awarded, with material procurement already in advanced stages. India has imported over 14,000 MT of JIS rails and received 50 molds for casting track slabs from Japan.
Dedicated state-of-the-art factories have been established to manufacture these precision track slabs, equipped with the latest technologies. The construction process will involve specialized machinery, including rail feeder cars, slab laying cars, and Cement Asphalt Mortar (CAM) laying cars.
Furthermore, comprehensive training and certification programs for Indian contractors’ personnel are underway, in collaboration with Japan Railway Technical Services (JARTS) as the Training & Certification agency. This marks a monumental step forward in India’s endeavor to create a world-class high-speed rail network, solidifying its position on the global stage.
