What's the diff in cost per km for ballast and ballast less tracks in India ?You must realize that the average speed of HSR is 270 Km/h and for the Train 18 will be around 130Km/h because of the track and signalling technology used in HSR vs Semi HSR. Therefore the difference is still 100 Kh/h which IMHO is still huge. Do read up on the technologies used, its quite interesting. Also with local manufacture of shinkansen prices will also stand reduced. The maximum speed difference would be 350 km/h vs 220 km/h.
Why not go for all ballast less tracks to future proof our tracks ?
The metro lines are already having all ballast less tracks.