Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project advances with 185 km of RC track bed completed, J-slab system deployed in India
Ahmedabad, April 22 (IANS) Track installation on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor is progressing with 185 route km of reinforced concrete (RC) track bed laid, 188 km of precast track slabs manufactured, and 70 km of slabs laid with cement asphalt mortar (CAM) injected, officials said on Wednesday.
The project will use a J-slab ballastless track system based on the Japanese Shinkansen design, being introduced in India for the first time.
The system comprises four main components: an RC track bed, Cement Asphalt Mortar (CAM), precast track slabs, and rails with fasteners intended for high-speed operations.
To support this work, two Track Slab Manufacturing Facilities (TSMF) have been established at Kim near Surat and at Anand in Gujarat.
These facilities produce high-grade concrete slabs with precise dimensions to maintain consistency across the corridor.
The slabs are stored at the manufacturing sites before being transported by trailers to Track Construction Base (TCB), which handle materials, machinery and equipment both on the ground and along the viaduct.
A total of 10 TCBs are currently operational.
Four are located along the Surat-Bilimora-Vapi section, while six are situated between Vadodara-Anand-Ahmedabad.
These bases facilitate the handling and installation of rails, slabs and specialised equipment required for track construction.
The installation process is fully mechanised and follows Japanese construction practices, with most machinery manufactured in India.
A Flash Butt Welding Machine (FBWM) is used to weld 25-metre-long, 60 kg rails into 200-metre panels at the construction bases on the viaduct.
These welded panels undergo a stringent approval process before being cleared for high-speed operations of up to 320 kmph.
Training and certification for rail weld finishing, inspection and testing have been carried out by a Japanese company, JARTS, as a prerequisite for commencing welding work.
Precast slabs are lifted onto the viaduct and transported using a Track Slab Laying Car (SLC), which can carry and position up to five slabs at a time on the RC track bed.
The 200-metre long rail panels are installed using a Rail Feeder Car, which places the rails over the track bed and establishes a temporary track.
Following slab placement, a Cement Asphalt Mortar Injection Car (CAM Car) mixes CAM in specified proportions and injects it beneath the slabs using specialised bags to achieve the required alignment and level.
The authorities said that the mechanised processes and specialised equipment are designed to ensure precision in track installation for high-speed rail operations.
–IANS
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