New Delhi: Indian Railways renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) of the Swiss Confederation to bolster technical cooperation between the two nations. The renewed agreement, formalised via video conferencing, was approved by the Ministries of Railways and External Affairs.
A step towards modernization
Union Railways Minister, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, said that this MoU will provide a comprehensive framework for collaboration in key areas such as technology sharing, track maintenance, management, and construction. He added, “This aligns with our government’s commitment to modernising Indian Railways.”
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Federal Councillor Albert Roesti, Head of the Federal DETEC, stated that Switzerland’s advanced railway technology would improve India’s operational efficiency, safety standards, service quality, and infrastructure development.
Focus areas of the MoU
The original MoU, signed on August 31, 2017, was valid for five years and concentrated on areas including traction rolling stock, electric multiple units and train sets, freight and passenger cars, tilting trains, railway electrification equipment, train scheduling and operational improvements, as well as the modernization of railway stations. The agreement also addressed multimodal transport solutions and tunnelling technology, highlighting a broad scope of technical collaboration between the two countries.
According to the Ministry of Railways’ statement, this partnership is set to significantly enhance the efficiency and reliability of railway services in India, benefiting both passengers and freight operations. Swiss companies will be supplying machinery, materials, and consultancy services for tunnelling projects.
Progress through the Joint Working Group
A Joint Working Group (JWG) was established to facilitate collaboration between the two nations. This group held three meetings, the latest of which took place on October 11, 2023. During this meeting, Indian representatives presented ongoing capital expenditure initiatives and highlighted substantial investment opportunities in the Indian railway sector for Swiss firms.
The event was attended by India’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Shri Mridul Kumar, alongside Albert Roesti. The renewal of this MoU is a significant step towards improving the efficiency and reliability of Indian Railways, as Swiss technology and expertise continue to enhance operations, safety, and passenger services.