Institution news
The international technical conference in New Delhi on 29th October and 30th October 2013, entitled High-Speed Rail Travel: Low Cost Solutions, is hosted by the Institute of Rolling Stock Engineers in India, Indian Railways and RITES.
Over 25 million passengers travel by rail daily in India – more than in any other country – across an extensive network of 64,000 route km and 7,500 stations, with a fleet size of over 9,500 locomotives and 60,000 coaches. Demand is growing by almost 10% annually.
The Institution is working with Indian Railways to find solutions to increase speed from its current maximum of 140 kmph. Using the existing track infrastructure, the first phase aim is to increase velocity to 160 kmph and ultimately up to 200 kmph. This requires extensive induction of new and innovative technologies to enable a fast, reliable and cost-effective service, providing better energy efficiency without detrimental impact on the environment.
President of the Institution, Patrick Kniveton, and Vice President Carolyn Griffiths, the UK’s Chief Inspector for the Rail Accident Investigations Branch (RAIB), will be chairing sessions at the conference, along with a number of other rail experts, including Past President of the Institution Professor Roderick A Smith FIMechE, the Royal Academy of Engineering Research Professor in Advanced Railway Engineering and Chairman of the Future Rail Research Centre at Imperial College London.
Professor Smith comments: “It is a privilege to be invited to this major conference in Delhi to share some of the experiences gained in other parts of the world with our Indian colleagues and at the same time to learn from them what are the particular challenges faced by the Indian railway system as it reacts to changing societal needs.”
The conference will be attended by global rail network experts, international policy makers, senior administrators, rolling stock manufacturers, research institutions, consultants and industry professionals.
Contributors and seminar leaders include:
Dr Robert Watson, Consultant Engineer – Advanced Rail Control Systems at Interfleet Technology Ltd. Dr Watson will present a ‘whole systems approach’ for high speed trains, discussing how this can create more effective rolling stock, infrastructure and signalling. In 2010 he won a Special Experience Award from the Institution to study High Speed Rail in Japan. His PhD research project explored energy modelling for High Speed Rail to estimate energy consumption.
Ross Spicer, CEO, Downer Rail draws on his 20 years’ experience in a variety of international roles within the rail industry. He will discuss the challenges of the Virgin West Cost project in the UK and illustrate how this has informed his recent and current roles in Australia, incorporating areas such as emergency braking distances and operational aspects for high speeds; mixed traffic challenges on high speed routes; rail wear and rolling contact problems; and upgrade of of existing tracks on trunk routes for 200 kmph.
Sascha Ermeling Dipl.-Ing (FH) is an expert in brake systems for multiple units and special vehicles, notably passenger coaches. He has worked at Knorr-Bremse in Berlin for 10 years, and as Sales Director for Systems of Passenger Coaches since 2009. Sascha is a member of the German Railway Industry Association, Verband der Bahnindustrie (VdB).
Sriram Raju, Director of Sales & Bids, for Bombardier Transportation India Ltd will lead a seminar on the key technologies and developments of High Speed Electric Multiple Units (EMUs). Bombardier has delivered over 900 trains worldwide, incorporating aerodynamics, propulsion systems and extensive bogie design experience; and focusing on the specific requirements of the customer in terms of energy efficiency, high capacity, smarter interior designs and ecological sensitivity.
IMechE Consulting Director for India, Prabal Sarma said: “This event is part of the Institution’s ongoing strategy to support global engineering employers and, in particular, support the development of professional registration in India. A growing international membership means that the Institution can continue to focus on the delivery of key member led activities and bring to life our vision of improving the world through engineering.”
The Institution is delighted to be co-chairing this conference in India, with a network that is both historic, and fundamental to the country’s infrastructure and communication. Members can find out more via the Institution’s website: www.imeche.org/events/C1399 or direct at http://hispeedconference2013.in/