India’s transport transformation is gaining momentum. With support from Deutsche Bahn, the first section of a new regional rapid rail system has now gone into operation. The project, known as the RRTS, is a flagship initiative of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is set to span a total of 82 kilometers once completed.
Deutsche Bahn subsidiary DB International Operations has taken over the operation and maintenance of the system. The company has signed a 12-year contract and will be responsible in the coming years for training train drivers and station staff, organizing workshops, and creating timetables.
The 17-kilometer section was officially inaugurated on Friday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on board the train. Regular passenger service is scheduled to begin on Saturday. At full capacity, the system is expected to transport around 800,000 passengers per day, a volume comparable to Hamburg’s S-Bahn network.
The RRTS represents a significant step forward in India’s transport transition. With speeds of up to 160 km/h, the trains are among the fastest in the country. The system is expected to substantially improve regional transport infrastructure in a nation that operates one of the world’s largest rail networks but still faces challenges such as aging trains and deteriorating tracks. For India, now the world’s most populous country, the project is seen as an important move toward a more modern and efficient mobility system.