Bids Invited for Mumbai – Ahmedabad Bullet Train’s Signaling Contract S1

India’s National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd. (NHSRCL) on Saturday invited bids for the signalling and telecommunication (S&T) system of 508.17 km Mumbai – Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR Bullet Train) project.

The scope of this long-delayed crucial package S-1 includes end to end design, installation and commissioning works for India’s first high speed rail line which will connect Mumbai and Ahmedabad through 12 stations at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.1 lakh crore (US $15 billion).

S-1 package, as I understand, was originally planned by NHSRCL under Package EW-2, but a tender notice was never published likely because of the delay, which continues, in finalizing the system’s rolling stock contract.

The tender notice is very basic and doesn’t provide any information about the system’s specifications. NHSRCL requires a non disclosure agreement (NDA) to be signed for gathering more information and has set it as prequalification to bid for the contract.

Per NHSRCL’s April 2024 brochure, the line will use Digital Shinkansen – Automatic Train Control (DS-ATC) technology with a special braking mechanism to prevent collision and overrunning at stations.

However, per the Integral Coach Factory (ICF)’s tender notice for manufacturing two prototype train-sets, which was awarded to BEML in October 2024, the line will be equipped with European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 signaling system. The 82.15 km Delhi – Meerut RRTS Line is configured with Alstom’s ETCS solution and is the only rail system in India running it at this time.

S-1’s Tender Details

• Completion Deadline: 2555 days (7 years)
• Pre-bid Meeting: February 18 2025 at 11 am
• Date & Time of Submission of Tender: March 26 at 3 pm
• Date & Time of Opening of Tender: March 27 at 3:30 pm

IFB Number: Package No. MAHSR – S-1

Brief Scope: Design, Manufacture, Supply, Installation, Over all Integration, Testing Commissioning, and Comprehensive Maintenance, of Signalling & Train Control System, Telecommunication System, and Operation Control Center System on Mumbai Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project, India.

While things on the civil construction-side are steadily advancing throughout its alignment in Gujarat and now Maharashtra, this project is clearly delayed on the systems procurement front.

There’s still no clarity on who will supply E5 Shinkansen train-sets, if at all, whether Hitachi or Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The only thing that is certain at this time is that BEML is building two 8-coach train-sets to test and run up to speeds of 250 kmph.

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– TMRG