Applicability of Gas Turbine Traction in High-Speed Rail Projects in Russia

Recently, the issue of advisability of building dedicated highspeed railways (HSR) in Russia for transportation of passengers and goods has often been raised in the scientific and industry environment. The key risk of such large-scale investment projects is a significant or rather long payback period due to the lower population density in the areas of the proposed HSR compared to, for example, China. In addition, when planning such capitalintensive and resource-intensive investments, it is necessary to consider plans for development of other modes of transport, namely, express highways, air traffic, as direct competitors to speed and high-speed railways.

A way to increase the competitiveness of HSR may be to reduce capital costs during the construction. The creation of HSR, where multiple-unit trains powered by gas turbine engines (GTE) and using AC-AC electric drive, will allow to renounce investments in expensive design, construction, and subsequent maintenance of energy facilities, specialised HSR catenary, which will ensure reduction in the cost of HSR projects, in construction time, and accelerated payback of railways.

The article describes the advantages of operating gas turbine traction on speed and high-speed railway lines. The possible structure and layout of such trains are shown. The risks of operation of rolling stock powered by GTE are considered as well as the ways to neutralise them. The objective of the study was to identify the comparative advantages of multiple unit trains powered by GTE compared to high-speed electric trains. The study used methods of comparative analysis, content analysis of technical information, and ranking. It is concluded that introduction of GTE will reduce the investment and operating costs of speed and high-speed railways while maintaining the power and dynamic characteristics of trains.

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