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The project uses 25-metre rails, imported from Japan, which are joined using advanced fusion welding machines to create 200-metre rail panels.
Once welded, the alignment is verified with precision equipment from Japan. (Photo: Rail Analysis India)
The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has begun a crucial phase of rail welding for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project in Gujarat.
This marks the final step before track laying for the 508-kilometre route, designed for speeds of up to 320 kilometres per hour.
According to Hindustan Times, an NHSRCL spokesperson shared, “The track construction work in Gujarat is progressing rapidly, with the welding of rails now underway on the viaduct.”
Special 25-metre rails imported from Japan are being used, which are welded together using advanced fusion welding machines to form 200-metre long panels. So far, 298 panels have been produced, covering around 60 kilometres of track.
The welding process begins with grinding the rail ends to prepare the surface. Once the rails are aligned, they are joined using flash butt welding technology. The welds are then inspected with magnetic particle and ultrasonic testing. If any flaws are found, the faulty weld is replaced.
Once the welding is complete, rail alignment is checked with specialised Japanese measuring equipment. A custom-built rail feeder car moves the 200-metre panels along the route for track laying, where they are fixed to the track slab using fasteners.
The project currently has four track construction bases in Gujarat: two between Surat and Bilimora, and two between Vadodara and Anand. Teams have already completed 64 kilometres of reinforced concrete track bed, with over 23,000 track slabs cast at facilities in Kim (near Surat) and Anand, covering a total of 118 track kilometres.