India has embarked on the construction of its first railway test track, following the footsteps of the USA, Australia, and Germany. This pioneering railway test track is being built near the Navan City railway station in Rajasthan, and upon completion, it will provide the country with international standard testing facilities in the railway sector.

India will soon join countries like the USA and Australia in conducting high-speed trials of passenger and freight trains, reaching speeds of up to 220 kilometers per hour upon the completion of this railway test track. The second phase of the project includes the establishment of workshops, laboratories, and accommodation facilities.

The test track is expected to be ready by 2024. The approximately 60-kilometer-long railway test track, developed under the Northern-Western Railway's Jodhpur Division, is being constructed in phases with an estimated cost of 819.90 crores. This dedicated test track is likely to be operational by December 2024, making India the first country with comprehensive international standards testing facilities for rolling stock.

Pankaj Kumar Singh, the DRM of Jodhpur Division, mentioned that the Research and Standards Organization (RDSO), the sole research organization responsible for fulfilling the technical needs of the railways, is developing this railway test track. The track spans between Gudda and Thathana Meethadi, near Navan railway station in Jodhpur Mandal.

The construction of the test track is divided into two phases, with the first phase covering 25 kilometers. During this phase, 95% of the major bridges have already been constructed, and progress is underway for the remaining 10 small bridges. Eight railway underbridges have also been built in the test track area, three of which are ready.

The high-speed dedicated railway test track will consist of a 23-kilometer-long mainline, a 13-kilometer-long high-speed loop in Gudda, a 3-kilometer quick testing loop in Naava, and a 20-kilometer curved testing loop in Mithri.

This test track will be utilized for various new trials, including high-speed, Vande Bharat, and regular trains. Additionally, it will be used to conduct trials for high axle load wagons. These trials will address research and infrastructure-related issues within the railway sector.

Currently, all trials of new trains or wagons are conducted on operational railway tracks, disrupting regular railway traffic. By selecting the Gudda-Thathana Meethadi area for the new test track, India aims to utilize existing railway lines and sufficient land for testing purposes.

The establishment of this new test track area will facilitate the evaluation of the quality and speed of new coaches, locomotives, and other railway components according to international standards. This initiative will contribute to India's efforts to increase the speed of its trains and enhance the quality of its railway services.