Russia offers India Ivolga FG train, faster than bullet train at 360 kmph

India's railway sector could see a new era of high-speed travel. After the Vande Bharat Express and the long-discussed bullet train, Russia has now proposed another state-of-the-art train to India. Russian rolling stock maker Transmashholding, or TMH, has expressed a wish to jointly design and build the Ivolga FG high-speed train in India. Notably, the train's design speed is stated to be 360 kmph.

In terms of speed, the Ivolga FG proposed for India could turn out to be faster than other high-speed trains currently under discussion. India's upcoming bullet train is being designed for a speed of 350 kmph, though it is planned to run at around 320 kmph in actual operation. The Vande Bharat Express has a design speed of 180 kmph and currently runs at an average speed of around 130 kmph. This means the Ivolga FG's proposed design speed of 360 kmph is higher than both these trains.

Russia's proposal is not limited to just bringing the train to India. A proposal has also been made for joint research and development, or R&D, in high-speed railway technology between India and Russia. Along with this, there are also plans to manufacture the train in India itself. It is being said that this concept for the Ivolga FG high-speed train was presented during the BRICS summit held in New Delhi. If the two countries agree on this proposal, it could give a big boost to India's high-speed railway manufacturing capacity.

Russian company TMH already has a presence in India's railway sector. Through Kinet Railway Solutions, TMH has formed a joint venture with Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, or RVNL, which is working on projects related to the manufacture and maintenance of Vande Bharat sleeper trains for Indian Railways. In this context, the new proposal for the Ivolga FG could become the next step in India-Russia railway cooperation.

Ivolga is actually a family of modern electric multiple unit, or EMU, trains developed in Russia, also known by the names EG2Tv and EGE2Tv. It has been built specifically for high-passenger-capacity urban railway and surface metro services. This train runs on Moscow Central Diameters, or MCD, routes, and several versions from Ivolga 1.0 to Ivolga 4.0 have been built so far. However, it is important to note that the production versions of Ivolga trains currently in service have a maximum speed of only around 120 to 160 kmph. The Ivolga FG proposed for India is a high-speed concept, with a stated design speed of 360 kmph.

The newer generation Ivolga models pay special attention to passenger convenience as well as faster boarding. The Ivolga 4.0 has three doors in each middle coach, making it easier for passengers to board and alight. The train features doors about 1400 mm wide, open gangways between coaches, smart lighting, USB charging ports and climate control. Separate space has also been provided for bicycles, scooters and passengers with disabilities.

India is currently working to expand its high-speed and semi-high-speed railway network. In this context, Russia's proposal could prove significant for India in terms of technology, production and research. If cooperation between India and Russia on the Ivolga FG is finalised, it could open the way to developing and building a state-of-the-art high-speed train within the country. Whether the Ivolga FG, with its 360 kmph design speed, will join the Vande Bharat and the bullet train on India's railway network in the coming time is now being watched closely by the railway sector.