RapidX

The RapidX  is a rapid rail     system operated by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) in India's National Capital Region (NCR). The goal of the RapidX is to replace the conventional non-air-conditioned MEMU-operated local train network with a rapid rail system. The semi-high speed trainsets which are providing services on RapidX have been named as Namo Bharat and have an average speed of 100 km/h.

Germany’s Deutsche Bahn will operate and maintain the entire Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut rapid rail transit corridor after winning bid value at estimated price of Rs 1500 crores for 12 years.

History
The plan for a regional rapid transit service to connect Delhi with nearby towns was proposed in the late 1990s by Indian Railways. In 2006, When the Delhi Metro was expanding, the plan was under consideration as a part of Delhi Metro's expansion to nearby lying towns. The government later formed National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) in 2013 to take up the implementation of eight planned Regional Rapid Transit Systems (RRTS) that would decongest Delhi within the 100-200 km radius of the region.

In October 2023, NCRTC branded the RRTS services as the RapidX and the trainsets as Namo Bharat.

Integration
To provide commuters with convenient, seamless travel experiences, the three phase-1 RapidX corridors, Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut; Delhi – Panipat; and Delhi – Gurugram – SNB – Alwar, will converge at Delhi's Sarai Kale Khan and will be interoperable, in the sense that trains will be able to move from one corridor to another. This will facilitate commuter travel from one corridor station to another without requiring train changes, thus enabling commuters to leave their private vehicles and switch to the RapidX.

RapidX stations will be integrated wherever possible with other modes of public transport, such as airports, Indian Railway stations, inter-state bus terminals, and Delhi Metro stations. Such integration will facilitate seamless commuter transfers from one mode of public transportation to another, thereby encouraging the use of public transport systems. While the RapidX will act as a backbone for regional transportation, Delhi Metro lines will complement the RapidX by acting as feeder lines. The Sarai Kale Khan RapidX station will be a mega-terminal where all three Phase-I RapidX corridors will merge.

Ticketing

 * Digital QR code-based Ticket – The commuter can purchase the ticket using RapidX Connect mobile application.
 * National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) Card – The passengers can travel with any NCMC compliant card. One can purchase these cards from the ticket counter at the stations. This card can be recharged with a minimum value of Rs 100 up to a maximum value of Rs 2000.
 * Ticket Vending Machine (TVMs) – The TVMs cards are equipped with a credit/debit/prepaid card reader compliant with RuPay/Master/VISA standard for non-cash payment transactions in addition to Cash mode of Payment. The NCRTC has installed 4 TVMs each at Sahibabad and Ghaziabad and 2 TVMs each at Guldhar, Duhai and Duhai Depot.
 * Paper QR code-based journey ticket – One can generate this ticket via TVMs or bought from Ticket Counters at the stations.

Facilities
Business class: Each RapidX train will have a separate business coach. This will encourage business class commuters to switch to public transport for intercity travel.

Platform lounge: These premium lounges will be built at all the stations of the "high-speed" rail. These lounges will be reserved only for the business class passengers travelling via RRTS.

Comfortable travel: The air-conditioned RapidX coaches will have transverse seating arrangements with overhead luggage space and Wi-Fi connections, among other modern amenities.

Women's coach: Each RapidX train will have a separate coach for women travellers, just like the Delhi Metro.

Universal accessibility: The entire infrastructure of the RapidX, including stations and trains, will be designed with universal accessibility in mind.

Wireless Railway Signaling System
Nokia partnered with Alstom to implement the 4.9G/LTE private wireless network to support the ETCS L2 signalling in Regional Rapid Transit System. This is a “world-first application” of an LTE network that is being used along with ETCS Level 2 signaling to provide high-speed, high-reliability commuter service. In addition, ETCS Level 2-based system allows trains to report their precise location in real-time.

Cargo handling
In order to maximize the utilization of the RapidX system, the routes will also be used for moving cargo during non-peak hours. Goods such as perishable ones are expected to avail benefits from the service. It is expected to reduce the pollution footprint after decongesting the road between the two cities by taking out trucks. The trainset depots of the system are set to be equipped with warehouses and other cargo handling facilities.

Technology
The NCRTC is implementing a state-of-the-art rail-based rapid transit system in the NCR with a design speed of 180 km/h. Such a design speed will necessarily require the installation of grade-separated tracks and the latest signalling and control systems to ensure high throughput and safe operation. The rolling stock (train cars) will be air-conditioned and capable of fast acceleration and deceleration in a very short time span. Traction power will be delivered through a uniquely designed 25 kV flexible overhead catenary traction system for elevated stations and a rigid overhead catenary system for tunnels.

Rolling stock
The trains for the service were specially developed for a fast and comfortable regional commute. The lightweight stainless steel body of the Namo Bharat (trainset) train with aerodynamic nose allows for reducing air drag at higher speeds (180 km/h). The train was designed in Alstom's engineering centre in Hyderabad and was manufactured by Bombardier Transportation in Savli.

Ballastless track
A Slab Track Austria system, recognized for providing excellent riding comfort even at high speeds of 180 km/h. These tracks are being used in India for the first time. The tracks are also preferred for their longer life span, reduced maintenance requirements, and ease of replacement.

ETCS Level 2 signalling system
The ETCS Level-2 signalling system is used globally for high-speed railway transit. The system is equipped with modern signalling with virtual blocks & ATO functionality over an LTE backbone and is being used for the first time in India. A key feature of the RRTS is the interoperability of all the corridors, and ETCS Level-2 makes this possible. The system can monitor train speed and direction and provide operational directives using a radio block centre. Use of a virtual block facilitated by ETCS Level-2 signalling eliminates any possibility of train collision.

SPEED – Systematic Program Evaluation for Efficient Delivery of Project
SPEED is NCRTC's in-house, sophisticated, robust, reliable, and user-friendly monitoring and project management platform for reporting activities of the pre-construction and construction phases of the RRTS. SPEED leverages technological infrastructure frameworks such as JavaScript, PHP, etc.

Common Data Environment (CDE)
A CDE is implemented to maintain a common repository for all construction and pre-construction drawings and technical documents. It enables collaboration and sharing of updated information, documents, and drawings in real-time to achieve a single source of truth across an organization, manage the design, define and implement workflows, and monitor progress actions across the organization.

Building Information Modelling (BIM)
BIM is an intelligent 3D model-based process that gives architecture, engineering, and construction professionals the insight and tools to effectively plan, design, construct, and manage buildings, infrastructure, and outdoor structures and elements. Project-related components like walls, doors, etc., are modelled in 3D using various BIM software. BIM offers a realistic 3D model, giving a true sense of how the actual structure will look. All the RRTS stations are currently being designed and developed using a BIM platform.

Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS)
A CORS network system, including its control station, is being installed by the NCRTC to increase geolocation accuracy in the civil construction survey work. This system provides real-time, precise coordinates for measured locations and is capable of ensuring 5 – 10 mm accuracy in the geolocation of points, whereas regular GPS can only provide location accuracy of up to 10 to 15 metres. This eliminates cumulative errors in civil construction and results in better alignment, acting as a life cycle management solution for the project.

Summary
The Delhi Meerut section of RRTS finally opened on 20th October 2023.