BHEL interested in Ultra High speed MAGLEV trains in India

Indian Railways get another 6 companies interest in their plan to develop ultra high speed Maglev trains in India. 

This time there are four Indian companies along with one each from Switzerland and United States from the total who have showcased their interest in these trains. From which state-owned Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) has come forward in the governments plan. 

When Talgo trains were conducted for trails, three firms - one from Japan and two from America has approached the railway minstry for adapting the high speed rail technologies. 

Apart from BHEL, other Indian companies are Agile Setu Private, Medha Servo Drivers, Sharad M Marathe. While from US was American Maglev Technology Limited and Switzerland's Swissrapide AG company have approached the Indian railways in this regards. 

The responses are now being examined for framing detailed request for proposal (RFP). 

Earlier, railway ministry has floated expression of interest for calling of responses from the companies/manufacturers of levitation based train system at a minimum speed of 350 kmph to carry passengers and cargo. 

India has one of the largest rail networks in the world, yet it hasn't reached any high-speed rail (HSR) till now, which allows an operational speed of 200 km/h or more.

Prime minister Narendra Modi approved the choice of Japan to build India's first high-speed railway. The planned railway would run some 500 kilometers (310 miles) between Maharashtra capital Mumbai and the western city of Ahmedabad, at a top speed of 320 km/h.

Under the Japanese proposal, construction is expected to begin in 2017 and be completed in 2023. It would cost about ₹980 billion (US$15 billion) and be financed by a low-interest loan from Japan.

For this process, India will use the wheel based 300 km/hr HSR technology, instead of new maglev 600 km/hr technology of the Japan used in Chūō Shinkansen.

Maglev (derived from magnetic levitation) is a method used in trains where they travel without touching the ground at a minimum speed of 350 kmph and maximum 500 kmph.

This Maglev technology is currently used in countries like Japan, China, and Germany.