Page 26 - Hitachi IR 2025

CASE STUDIES
Enroute to a brighter future for
India's rail transportation
A case study
Your Company’s
solutions promise to
transform India's rail
network dramatically.
The advanced
technologies support
higher power
delivery, leading to
faster train speeds,
shorter journey
times, and enhanced
rail capacity.
The upgrade of the rail electrical
system underscores the
commitment of Indian Railways to
enhance the speed, reliability and
efficiency of the rail network, and
achieve its target of net zero carbon
by 2030. Modernization of rail
infrastructure is crucial for achieving
the vision of Viksit Bharat, as it is a
pillar of the nation’s infrastructure
and economy. By upgrading its rail
network, the nation can significantly
improve connectivity, reduce travel
time, and boost economic activities
across regions.
These efforts on modernization
are aimed at enhancing efficiency,
safety, connectivity, technology, and
sustainability, thereby contributing
to overall national progress. These
advancements not only enhance
passenger experience, but also
contribute to regional development
by connecting industrial hubs and
fostering economic growth. By
upgrading its rail network, India can
significantly improve connectivity,
reduce travel time, and boost
economic activities across regions.
Once adequate, the current
single-phase 27.50 kilovolt
(kV) power supply system has
become a bottleneck due to
the increasing train speeds and
higher traffic density. Raising
the power rating within this
system is impractical, as it causes
voltage imbalances, significant
drops, and higher power losses,
resulting in reduced efficiency and
infrastructure limitations.
Key challenge
Understanding the limitations of
the existing single-phase 27.5 kV
system, Indian Railways decided
to adopt the innovative approach
of directly supplying power to two
separate 27.5 kV railway lines. By
doubling the voltage, the 2x27.5
kV system can deliver significantly
higher power levels to trains,
enabling increased speeds and
capacities without the drawbacks
of increasing current in a single-
phase system.
The solution: Electrification
upgrade on Delhi-Mumbai route
Implementing the 2x27.5 kV
system requires specialized
traction (rail infrastructure) power
transformers capable of efficient
power conversion and distribution.
Indian Railways needed the right
partner to develop and execute
the required 220 kV and 132
kV traction substations. The
substations would power the
2x27.5 kV catenary systems with
Scott-connected transformers for
the Mumbai-Ratlam and Vadodara-
Ahmedabad sections.
Playing a crucial role
Your Company’s scope of work
included designing and delivering
12x100 Megavolt Ampere
(MVA) 132 kV Scott-connected
transformers. These are the first
Scott transformers produced at
the Company’s Maneja factory in
Gujarat, and the largest among all
India Railways systems.
24 Hitachi Energy India Limited