The National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japan Railway Technical Service (JARTS) for training & certification and advisory services for construction of track works for Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (under package no MAHSR-T-1, T-2 and T-3).
The track packages for MAHSR project are now opened for participation by Indian contractors with stipulation that the contractor’s workforce would undergo specialised technical training related to Shinkansen track technology before the start of work at site.
The slab track system used for Shinkansen-High Speed Rail in Japan is highly specialised and requires use of special machines. The similar system will be adopted for MAHSR project.
As per the MoU, JARTS will provide training and certification (T&C) services prior to start of works and advisory services during first execution.
The services include preparation of training materials, classroom training and onsite training. The track contractors will be required to execute separate service agreement with JARTS. The terms and conditions for service agreement have already been finalised and are part of the MoU.
More than 1,000 personnel are envisaged to be trained and certified. Most part of the training will be done in India, for which a separate temporary training facility will be developed at Surat, Gujarat.
As Enclosed Arc (EA) welding for rail welding is presently not done in India, about 60 days training for EA welding is envisaged in Japan. Moreover, depending on the situation of COVID-19, onsite training at Japan may also be planned for some engineers.
The initiative will help in transfer of technology and also upgrade the skill sets of Indian track engineers.
