COMMENT: Jane Dobson, Senior Consultant with Interfleet Technology Ltd in London, has recently returned form India, where she spent 3 years, working part time to develop Interfleet’s business. Jane, shares her thoughts and impressions with airrail NEWS readers.

The first two months in the seventh largest country in the world with its 1.2 billion people were particularly challenging as I settled in with my family, including two children of 10 and 8, into this very different world.

On the face of it and as a new visitor in this country, India can prove very daunting and intimidating. However, as I settled in and over the months and years of living and working there, I met Indian people from all walks of life, and grew to understand their culture and way of life, finding an exciting and rewarding place with great richness and depth.

India has great diversity, with its multitude of festivals, fascinating and ornate temples, varied and beautiful wildlife, extensive railway network and fascinating heritage railways. I and my family felt privileged to be welcomed into the country and before long invited to local weddings, birthday parties, and financial new year celebrations. I finally felt at home, and was soon also wearing a sari, having been shown not only how to put it on, but also how to walk in it! Our family had some fabulous holidays which included white river water rafting, camel racing, and spotting tigers 5 metres away while in an open top jeep. We travelled by night train to Goa, which was another new experience!

On the railway front, while passengers travelled on the top of trains in India, and walked over busy tracks to get to work, the sheer number of trains and comprehensive network that Indian Railways operates is impressive and makes the European rail market appear comparatively insignificant. Indian Railways is the second largest railway under one management in the world with over 1.5m employees, transporting 20 million passengers and 2m tonnes of goods daily. The railway market in India is huge with massive investments going into a dedicated rail freight corridor, rail freight terminals, metros, monorails and the development of high speed lines for the future.

In the air rail industry, India is making some exciting new developments. In New Delhi, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is developing a 15 mile Delhi Metro Air Express link between Delhi and the airport.The Delhi Metro Express is currently under construction and due to be completed this year in time for the Commonwealth Games. In Bangalore, the Karnataka Government has approved the construction of a 25mile high speed dedicated rail link between Bangalore city and the international airport, and an independent entity Bangalore Airport Rail Link Ltd has been created. Five companies have been shortlisted for financial bids, and construction is expected to start soon after award of the bid. Other air rail links are on the horizon.

I enjoyed developing Interfleet’s business out there, through research of the Indian railway market, networking at conferences, meeting senior executives in target companies, preparing bids, and getting the business. So Interfleet has been active in the Indian rail market for a few years now, providing a range of support to railway stakeholders in India, including independent assessments and certifications. With a new office in Mumbai, and with wide experience in consultancy in rail developments worldwide, Interfleet plans to get further involved as these projects become more developed, and new projects come on board. With its air rail experience already acquired in India, and in the UK with the Heathrow Express and Stansted Express, it is well placed to play a leading role in this growing market.

In addition to the social and work front, I was also active working with the Deep Griha Society, an independent charitable organisation working to better the lives of people living in the slums of Pune.

All in all I had a very worthwhile and fascinating time in India.

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