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Indian Railways Canted Turnouts: Transitioning to 160+ Kmph Speeds

Indian Railways is currently working to raise passenger train speeds to 160 kmph, with a long-term goal of reaching 200 kmph. To achieve these higher speeds safely and comfortably in a mixed traffic environment, the adoption of canted turnouts has become inevitable.

The Problem with Existing Turnouts

On standard Indian Railway tracks, rails are laid with a 1:20 inward inclination, known as "cant". However, the current turnouts (the track structures that allow trains to switch from one line to another) are laid completely flat without this cant. Because the turnout is un-canted, the rails must be physically twisted in stages at both the approach and the exit to transition the tracks from an angled position to a vertical one. This outdated, un-canted system causes several issues:

• Passenger Discomfort and Safety Risks: Twisting the rails induces unwanted torsional stress and causes lateral oscillations in the vehicles as they pass over the transition areas, resulting in a rough ride.
• Increased Wear and Tear: The lack of canting, combined with a higher switch entry angle, causes sudden jerks and higher lateral forces on the wheels and track.
• Hammering Effects: Existing turnouts use Cast Manganese Steel (CMS) crossings with fish-plated joints at the ends. These joints cause a "hammering action" from passing wheels, leading to high maintenance requirements and negatively impacting safety and riding comfort.

The Advantages of Canted Turnouts

Canted turnouts are designed to maintain the same 1:20 inward inclination as the rest of the standard track. Modernizing to this track structure provides significant benefits:

• Smoother Ride: By maintaining the slope, the need for twisted rail transitions is completely eliminated, resulting in significantly reduced lateral oscillations and smoother train movement.
• Longer Service Life: Canting creates a relatively central contact band on the rail head. This lowers contact pressure, reduces gauge corner fatigue, and minimizes wear and tear on both the track and the rolling stock.
• Seamless Tracks: Using canted Weldable CMS crossings eliminates the problematic joints that cause hammering. This is particularly advantageous because it allows Long Welded Rails (LWR) to continue seamlessly through the points.
• Lower Lifecycle Costs: Because they are subjected to fewer lateral forces and structural stresses, canted turnouts require less maintenance and have a longer service life, making them more cost-effective over time.

Trials & Implementation Requirements

While canted turnouts are ideal and commonly used worldwide on high-speed routes, foreign designs may not automatically suit India's unique operating conditions. As a result, the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) has established rigorous Functional Requirements Specifications (FRS) to test compatible designs.

New designs must be able to support passenger speeds of 200 kmph, fit into existing yard layouts without modifications, require minimal changes to overhead equipment (OHE) wire alignments, and align with "Make in India" principles.