Well IMO they already have these trains configured to carry nuclear missiles.
Rail and road mobility are essential till the nuclear subs come on line and become fully operational.
I think they would have thought through the safety part.
Nuclear trains are not that easy to follow around, considering the traffic that exists with in the Indian railways, the range of the missile, and the size of the Indian railways.It is possible to blend the rail missile carrier with the normal traffic. The deterrence is opponent based, the range of the missiles till now should tell one where the deterrence was aimed at.
Submarines would be a better option, however a credible submarine based deterrence might be some years away.
First the construction has to finish, then they have to go through sea trials, then they have to be inducted into the Navy, after that the navy will have to hone in the art of using these nuclear submarines, and simultaneously longer ranged missiles have to be developed/modified, tested and put on the submarines.
Meanwhile the work on another missile has started
Quote:
DRDO readying design for 5,000 km-range Agni-V
It is to be equipped in the later stages with multiple warheads
HYDERABAD: Riding on the success of the test-firing of the 3,500 km range, nuclear-capable Agni-III surface-to-surface ballistic missile, the DRDO scientists team involved in the Agni project is planning to complete the design for the first developmental flight of Agni-V ( 5,000 km) in two years. Besides, the team also proposes to equip Agni-V in the later stages with multiple warheads and anti-ballistic missile counter measures.
Talking to reporters here on Friday, Agni’s programme director and Advanced Systems Laboratory director Avinash Chander said, “We are getting ready for the 5,000 km system. Designs are in progress.”
With most of the inputs coming from Agni-III, the technological capability existed for developing a ballistic missile of 5,000 km range.
New design
Although developing Agni-V was an extension of the existing know-how, he pointed out that it would be per se a new design and a new product. Every package needed to be thoroughly evaluated for severe thermal environment and other factors which Agni-V would encounter.
Mr. Chander said that Agni-V would be a three-stage solid-fuelled projectile with the third stage made of composite rocket motor casing.
He said the just-tested Agni-III was a “truly deliverable version” and expressed confidence that no more developmental flights were required. For the first time, a strategic command network and all features of safety and security were integrated with the system. Referring to the maturity of the missile technology developed for Agni-III, he said “We have come to a stage where we can closely recreate all flight conditions on the ground for 600 micro-parameters… we have totally validated the design and manufacturing methodologies, ” he added.
Stressing that Agni-III was ready for induction, he said the user might require a familiarisation test in the next six to eight months.
He said the ring laser gyro-based Inertial Navigation System was among the state-of-the-art indigenous components used in the missile to enhance its accuracy.
V.G.Sekharan, project director (A3), D.P.Rao, project director (A1), Tessy Thomas, associate project director, and D.Lakshminarayana, project director (A2), were present.
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The Hindu : National : DRDO readying design for 5,000 km-range Agni-V
It seems the government has finally decided to give the missile development a go ahead (more work for DRDO).
The area will be a lot more active in the coming years, it seems the government is getting ready for it.
Is Agni-IV missing on purpose (some other program), or is this just an error in the report?